Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-01-03
Pastor Russelrs Sermon

IN the world results from Ignorance
and superstition, and should not be ac-
credited wholly to devilishness of in
tention. Nevertheless, we must all
agree that whatever the inspiring mo-
tves, there are people whose vicious
conduct can scarcely be characterized
as other than wicked, sensual, devil
ish; and the Apostle Jude is our au-
thority for using these terms.
The welfare of children was careful
ly discussed. 1t was demonstrated
that in the families of the very poor,
ideals OF chastity are unknown. These
children possess knowledge of sex mat
ters beyond their years; and, mingling
with others In the public schools, like
an infectious plague they poison the
moral atmosphere of the entire school.
suggesting immoral practlses to those
whose parents have sought carefully
to maintain their purity.
The parental duty Of giving children
proper conceptions Of the sanctity Of
their bodies was set forth. The child
needs, not large instruction. but sim
ply confidence In the parent, and the
information that Its body Is sacred,
pure. holy, and belongs to God, and
that whoever violates It's sanctity sins
against God. This much information
should be given to the child before 1t
enters the public school, Indeed, first
lessons In vice are sometimes given In
the kindergarten. Notwithstanding the
teachers watchful eye. The child
should have the assurance that the
parent will give further instructions
later on; and should have such conf
dence in the parent that II would be
content to wait for the further infor-
nation which every childs mind seeks
regarding itself and Its origin.
1t was pointed out, however, that
comparatively few parents know how
to broach this subject In profitable
manner. Alas. what have our schools
and churches done. or not done, for
these fathers and mothers! II they
had received useful information help
ful to their lives, no doubt church at
tendance would be much larger than 1t
is today. Are we to see young boys
start In bad habits that will injure
their health and that of their posterl-
ty2 The answer is, No! Yet great
care should be exercised that thorough
sex instruction be not given too early.
lest the very evil be encouraged which
1t was sought to guard against.
The age of thirteen to fifteen, ac-
cordlng to the child's intelligence,
seems to be the critical age when clear
knowledge IL quite necessary to save
the child from the evil which has al
ready overtaken so many. Statistics
indicate that boys and girls are es-
pecIally subject to temptation through
ignorance between the years Of thlr-
teen and eighteen, when the forces OF
nature nre breaking forth. just as
trees bud In sprlngtlme. The parent
who rules his child with loving intel
ligence rather than brute force should
have the chlld's confidence at this age
The parents ure the God-given instruc-
tors and protectors of their families.
Nothing can excuse them from this,
either church work or slum work. or
even Bible study.
The Minimum of Wages.
1t was brought out that fve Of our
great states have already legislated
on the subject Of the minimum wage
for female employees and Of the hours
during which they may be legally en-
ployed. Amongst these the three high.
est IN appreciation seem to be Oregon,
Iowa, and Minnesota, with evidences
that the laws Of the Inst named state
represent the best features Of all pre-
vlous legislation on the subject.
The story OF the battle to secure bet
ter regulations of vice and better
hours and wages for female lNborers
was told IN detail In various ways
the opponents Of righteousness sought
to clrcumvent the legislation so Inn
neratlyely needed by the people whom
they represented. And so far as we
could learn. female suffrage and the
active and intelligent labors Of self.
sacrificing women have been largely
influential in effecting the rectlhcatlon
OF the laws. We surely did rejoice in
this, II the giving OF the franchise to
women shall mean better laws, more
righteousness and purity IN our nation,
we surely all would agree that female
suffrage could not como too soon.
Our thought heretofore has been that
In Gods order the family Ia unit, Of
which the husband Is the head; and
that the votes Of these heads should
properly protect every family Interest
There is another side TO the ques.
ton, however well worthy OF consld.
Grafton; namely. the fact that sin has
dlsordered all the affairs and interests
Of life, 1t may be that under the stress
Of present conditions no wiser thing
could be done than to give the ballot
to women, The most powerful urgu.
ment to the contrary is the conduct OF
some extreme sunragettes who wait
neither for God, order and time. nor
for the ripenlng OF human thought ON
the subject, but seem utterly reckless
as respects life, property aud principles
OF righteousness,
Tho White Slave Traffic.
Perhaps many OF us huye consider,
ed the expression white slave traffic
a fiction OF some overSealous reform
er; but not no, ON the very best au