Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-17
ATLANTA CHURCHE 5 ADVERTISE
IN WONDERFUL CITY CLEANUP

ments revealed something of the Sc
rene assurance of scripture itself;
they were unhurried and unannoyed.
The calm confidence in which they
were written was more terrifying than
buster. Evidently the Christian
forces of Atlanta, under the direction
of the Men and Religion movement,
had laid siege to the citadel of vice,
and they possess the needed guns and
ammunition. Even the casual reader
could see that there were behind the
written statements a legal mind and
soldier heart. Here was the Chris
ion crusader down to date. Each OF
the advertisements, until victory was
assured, ended with the confident
words, Atlanta should and will close
the houses in our midst
"The men who used these advertise
ments were speaking to the people Of
Georgia with a power that no other
series of messages had ever possessed
and they were plainly fearless. It be-
came necessary to point out the new
and uns.udied' implications IN the
problem of the social evil The wages
of women workers were set forth in
the advertising and new duty laid
upon the city's Christian men. 1t is
true that the world has Eeen blunder-
ing aleng in chaotic fashion amid the
new economic and social conditions.
Now our prophets are facing the facts
all facts The really startling ap-
preparedness OF the scripture quota
tions used by the Atlanta men have
stimulated many minds. Thus one
advertisement bears the words OF
Nehemiah, Some Of our daughters are
brCugh: into bondage already"
The outcome was dramatic. The
chief of police of Atlanta does not
have to confer with any authorities
higher up:
"Cbief Of Police Beavers OF Atlanta
was at heart better man than the
world with which he had dealings
ever suspected He had fallen into
vicious custom. These advertise
ments got him; they found the
real Beavers. He resolved to stand
by his parents. by his own early
training and by the best life Of At
lanta. He publicly pledged the Men
and Religion committee that he
would close the houses.
AT once many persons who had
shown no spark of solicitude for the
fallen girls in their virtual slavery be-
gan to shed maudlin tears i'm public
over their fate at being turned adrift
without shelter. This ostentatious
sympathy was short-lived, for the ad-
vertising campaign was part of a
Christian movement. II was bigger
and better than politics. Behind 1t
burned the yearning, loving heart of
Christ's compassionate servants The
ensuing advertisements were directed
to the women in the evil resorts. The
word of the committee was pledged
that every one of them would be offer
eed shelter and help in new life.
All the arguments that the vested
interests of evil might offer to their
victims were counteracted by this
clear. unequiyocal statement which
could not be kept from the eyes OF
anybody who read the daily papers,
that there was a door of opportunity
open to all who sought better life.
Ministers and their members went
two by two through the red light dis
trict. Every fallen woman in Atlanta
was personally offered a chance for
a better life. With this message of
practical service went the gospel OF
Christ. The women were told that if
Ill they would be provided with med
Ical care; if they needed training for
a career of honest service, it would
be supplied; if there were dependent
relatives. they would be cared for;
If shelter alone were wanted, that
would b provided. Whatever was ne
cessary 10 help the victims of vice
back to respectable life was freely
pledged to them.
Here comes the most shining chap
Ter in the long and beautiful story
More than goo or the women accept
I'd the committees offer and for
sock the old life of shame"