Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-19
CIVIC SENSE OF SHAME
NEEDED TO CHECK VICE
Bowie Reviews Moral Situation in
Eloquent Sermon to
Rotarians.
CITY's CALLoUs CONSCIENCE
Preacher Attributes Prevalence OF
Decadent Standards In Part to
Snug Complacency and Lenient At
titude Towards Moral Delinquency.

In special sermon. commemorating
the growth OF the city during the last
fifty years. Rev. W. Russell Bowie, d. D.,
rector OF st. Paurs Church. last night
touched upon vice conditions existing
In Richmond and upon the councilmanic
investigation of three police commits
sioners.
Tho services were conducted particu-
larly for the members OF the Richmond
Rotary Club. who attended in n body
Mrs. j. e. B. Stuart, wife OF
the famous Confederate cavalry
leader, was an interested listener
to the historical narrative. After
morning wnen President Davis was
notified while in church that Lees lines
had been broken. and that the city must
be evacuated. DR.. Bowie referred TO the
great heritage which the city had re-
ceived from those whose love and
labors restored 1t from ashes. and
uttered the fervent hope that as the
city had risen in physical power and
greatness. SO would she also rise su-
perior to the present moral stress.
IDEALIsM HAS MARKED
CITI'S WHOLE HISTORY
-hoSl ol III, ana ABOVE all In tho
work that has been done to build the
city Of to-day" he said. there has been
the power OF an idealism which aided
Richmond In no common way. She has
been something more than n material
creation; more than the outward form.
BY those who have given most TO her
she has been served with certain
romantic and lovelike devotion rs men
serve that which their souls hold high.
And now to-day what shall we say
OF our heritage? Can we resolve less
han to keep the city worthy OF all
that those who lived for her-aye. and
who died for her-have given her a
right to be?
II think you Will recognize at once
the particular and urgent application
which these thoughts have for us now.
We have been told In these last months
more clearly than we knew before tho
facts about that sin In Richmond which
in Its measure is every city's problem
and every city's shame. Wo cannot
Ignore these things. We dare not for
our own sake: We dare not for others
sakes. II the South has looked to Rich
mond for encouragement and inspira-
t!on in material reconstruction. SO II
Will look--for good or ill-to her for
example In moral matters. too city
that Is set on Il hill cannot be hid.
PRESENT CONDITIONS CALL
CITIZENS TO COLOHs
What shall We do with our oresant
conditions as they have been revealed >
Three members Of tho Police Com
mission are on trial before the Council
with the Issue OF that trial IL ia the
part OF no man now to speak II rests
with the seven men Of the Council COM
mittce to hear the evidence and to form
their verdict. We would not prejudre
the case which Is In their hands And
the one thing we assume Is that thew
shall determine It with Justice and with
fearlessness
but out OF the facts as they have
developed these things stand out
already az true:
First. that among,at least n part Of
the people OF Richmond the conscience
that ought to hate vice has grown CAL
lous. No one can have gone TO the
hearings OF the Council committee and
listened TO the coarse amusement among
the crowd In instances when witnesses
spoke e this or that mans irnpurity
as common thing, without feeling his
spirit burn with the awful sense of tho
"Seo ioi he" hhu DIaZinB lnSiStence
upon that cleanness OF life which so
many have lightly thrown away. There
is need for the public conscience that
shall scorn and brand as the loathsome
thing 1t Is the low completeness which
thinks OF n mans sin as trivial thing.
by the side OF mercy there is need for
purity that shall he impartial. MILL
tant and true.
f,yuS. NAG r,Tf.yrrC r,n
DEMAND HONEST POLICE
Linked with this is tho specific fact
thnt the city has right, and, with in
exorable insistence. the city ought to
require. that Its police authorities
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