The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-17
ll;[ERGIMEN MAKE
PLEA FOR PURITY
METHODIST MINISTER'S CE>suRE
JUDICIAL TOLERANCE or
EVELYN THtW.
SAY LIMIT IS REACHED
WOULD AWAKEN CoNNtNIrf con-
SCIENCE THAT APPEARANCES
OF PLAYS AGAINST MORALS
III BARRED.

showing their position ON matters
pertaining to the stage aud donuguctas
the allowance az amy performance
which may have a had effect ON puhhc
morals. the Methodist prea2hers 81
Richmond, IN their werkiv meeting
yesterday. adopted resolutions sensur-
ing she judicial Tolerance. az Evelyn
Neshtt Thaw and aSAed the {t}ahmont
public To aid them So their GEbt Tor "A
cleaner stage.
1t was the Methodist ministers Of
the city who started the movement to
prevent the appearance OF Mrs, Thaw
on the Academy stage last week After
adopting resolutions ash that she
be not permitted 10 p}4y. 1he Meth
odists carried the case into the meet
irr OF the Richmond Ministerial union
and secured the adoption of resoIu-
ticns which were laid before Mayor
AinsIle who. though ho took action,
failed to prevent Mrs. Thaw $ appear
ancA
The paper adopted by the Methodist
ministers yesterday IS as follows
A Plea for Purity.
The failure OF the court under the
existing law TO proven, the appear
anee of Evelyn ThaH upon the public
stage In the city af Richmond brings
very foundations 81 public morals aud
public decency. Has the eity adequate
authority IN all matters pertaining TO
public health. to the protection u life
and limb ana to the protection Of
property Aud is Il utterly itrpotcnt
10 protect the public against tn. rom-
merciaiization and the ei9r lifat}an of
infamy and the Haunting $50 thr face
OF an entire city of tht lnsul* et the
exhibition In puelie as "a heroine and
star performer Of ore WIN bias become
the Representative ard embodiment In
the public mind OF the fashionable IN
slerworld Of New York Sty3
We protest that VI have reached the
limit of endurance IN allowing f1e in
1ieeenrg connected with this woman
longer to be held up before tho Ra5lie
gage. Shall every boy arid girl ana
morally immature person io uur city
read the lesson. written i8 large let
ters that the shameless. moral pcrvert
is. because of shamelessn@ss and the
puhitcity thereof. become heroine and
allowed to make merchandise Of rep
ntation that would cause amy modest
and moral woman 10 want to hide for
nser her face from the public gaze
Yea more, shall those tempted and
morally weak girls of this city whose
only safeguard Is the social sanction
about them, be Jed 10 draw the com
elusion that after Ri they may dis
regard the standards ~ Social morality
With fnpunity2 Who does net know
that the idealization Of vice or crime
Is the surest way 10 wreck The virtue
and honor OF the weak ana immature
and that the society that allows such
ldeaiixation Of lost virtue becomes
chiefly responsible for tho downfall al
the sex who are ied to their ruin by
This influence OF the public CONSENT
Community Must Help.
Richmond cannot escape lhis respon-
sibiIity There are many young girls
In Richmond today staggering on the
brink of ruin. In their 0gAt they need
the help Of community conscience
nat is uncquivocal- Is the moral cit
ixenship OF Richmond Milling to throw
its influence, even bS tacit consent
against these weaker members Of SO
ciety? We are concerned for the weak
and the tempted- and We-nake our
appeal in their behalf against the eX-
ploitation for money Of reputation
based on lost virtue and against the