The Harrison times., 1915-06-26
The Boy Who Is Start
ing Wrong
WHAT SHALL We DO WITH HIM ?
INTERESTING PAPER READ BY
DIR. BELDEN AT MINISTER
IAL MEETING.


The problems which are presented
for solution as to means Of best car
ing for the idle boys of Harrison, and
providing for their welfare, now and in
the future have been subjects of dis
cussion many times at the meetings
of the Harrison Ministerial Associa-
ton. These subjects were taken up
again at the meeting Of the associa-
ton this week, and an interesting
paper offering valuable suggestions,
was read by DR.. C. D, Belden of the
Episcopal church. The paper was as
follows:
Brethren:-The discussion of last
week was of too pointed and searching
character to be lightly thrown off,
especially as the request was made
that each of us would give the matter
deep consideration as a subject of in
tense immediate interest.
was then absorbed in the pathos of
the appeals and their intensity remains
with me rather to the exclusion of 9TH
er topics and in consequence | am i'm
PEELED to refer to them with the in
tent to come to some practical solu-
ton of the problems which perplexed
us at that time.
That discussion was started by Bro.
Blizzard, who made an earnest heart
felt appeal in behalf of the youth Of
our town, particularly those who are
idle, and that his soul yearned to find
way to improve them and even make
them intelligent and respectable men.
This deplorable condition is Of COM
mon repute and should cause anxiety
and grief in the souls Of all who have
the best interests of the community at
heart, and especially among US whose
calling and profession is to minister
to the moral and spiritual needs Of the
people, and therefore il is our duty
and privilege Go endeavor to moderate
and correct this evil for the sake of
civic pride as we'll as for the reason
which our good brother advanced, to
save the souls of the young people
from a moral death now, as well as an
eternal condemnation. We cannot be
true to ourselves nor satisfy our con-
sciences unless we respond to such an
appeal heartily but wisely,
This is q subject upon which it is
easy TO moralize but difficult to be
practical. So our esteemed brethren
have admitted, as when Bro. Cummings
said he could not give advice readily
to the officials who solicited il. But,
however difficult the matter, II is our
present duty 70 consider it and give
IL the more careful attention because
of It's preplexities,
In most instances il is the free and
easy way TO shift the responsibility
upon the state and send Che refractory
lads TO the roformatory, That is per-
haps the best that can be done in large
cities. The idea underlying such
treatment is chat the delinquent, de-
generate and vicious characters are Of
n different and distinct class by them
selves and should not be permitted to
remain unrestrained among the ordin-
ary youth for two reasons, First, for
fear Of contamination Of the good ele-
ment ;and, second, because their very
unfitness for such association prevents
the possibility of reform without
change,
We all dread the fcarlully dcmoral.
i2lng effects Of reGormatory life, since
experience has demonstrated that It Is
rather a preparatory school for the
prison, True, in some cases, 1t has
been the means Of redeeming indi.
yiduals and Il may be that by proyid.
ing advanced methods the proportion
Of those saved from utter degradation
may be largely increased,
II occurs to me that, II the prn-
ciplo Of the roformatory Is correct
one-that Of segrcgating the vicious
and controlling their education and
conduct apart from others=it might
be applied locally and avoid the aw.
fully degrading force Of association
with numbers Of the dcprayed and dan.
gerous characters such os are gener-
ally found In such institutions,
\ would suggest, under the influence
Ing thought Of the value Of segrega.
tion-the exclusive supervision and
training Of thia class-thot some ana
logous follow First, have the truant
law strictly enforced
Second-When delinquent pupils are
returned TO school, have the incorri.
gibles and vicious placed In Il room
specially set apart and devoted toI