The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-12-19
PASTORSOF CITY
. 0RGANIZEF|GHT
ON VICE. DISTRICT
.t' " .. ,TTsF 80 -
Headed BY Bishop Restariok They
Appoint Committee Of Seven
For Preliminary Work
WILL SEEK TO HAVE AN
ABATEMENT LAW PASSED
Chairman Points To Need Of En-.
Tightening Young People On
Sex Matters

Further action to permanently abol
ish Commcrcialized vice in Honolulu
was taken at the Library of Hawaii
last night, when representatives Of the
religious organizations of the city met
to discuss means for carrying out this
purpose.
territorial grand jury in closing Iwilei
promise of cooperation with the com
mittee appointed by the chamber of
commerce to investigate the vice con
ditions of the city; the appoint
ing of tentative committee to de.
wise means for handling the problem
and the recommendation that the next
legislature pass some law that will
make impossible the condition that ex-
listed during the days when Iwilei ran
"wide OPEN" were some of the re.
suits Of the meeting.
Before the close of the meeting, of
which Bishop H. B, Restarick was
chairman, comprehensive resolution
was passed covering most Of the points
at issue and calling on the religious or,
CARNATIONS Of the city, as well as the
churches and congregations, to assist
in the campaign that has been launched
for clean city.
Seeks Systematic Fight
Rev. Charles H. McVey, who spoke
last week before the chamber of com.
merce on the vice situation, urged his
hearers to make the fight systematic
one
This campaign should not be spas
modic," he said, "but a determined
fight until vice has been exterminated
from the community"
Bishop Restarick advised campaign
of education, and pointed out that
whenever the young are dealt with
along educational lines the impression
made has been enduring Ignorance of
sex life, he said, is a menace to the
community. These matters, which are
now concealed, according to the speak,
or, should be made plain to the young.
James A. Rath, head worker of the
Palama Settlement, declared that it
was up to the intelligent classes, and
especially for religious workers, to give
light to the young. He especially
urged that the matter should be taken
up at the next session of the lcgisla.
ture.
Wants Abatement Law
"We should 60 before the lcgisla-
ture," he said, land see that the Iowa
abatement law is passed. By law OF
this nature it is possible to place the
responsibility where it belongs. The
responsibility does not rest with those
who are carried away by passion, but
with those who permit their properties
TO be used for commercialzed vice."
In Objecting to the committee aP
pointed at the meeting last night, Da
rid Carey Peters asserted that Ha,
waians, Chinese, japanese and persons
of other nationalities should be placed
on the committee. 1t was explained
that the committee appointed was only
tentative committee and that later it's
scope would be enlarged to take in
members Of other nationalities.
j. p. Erdman, in charge of the Ha-
wniian section of the Hawaiian Board. |
offered the following resolution, which
was unanimously adopted:
" Resolved that this body Of church |
men 60 on record as unanimously en-
dOrsIng the fight against commercial
lied vice and the effort to bring before
the citizens such facts concerning con
ditiOns as will arouse the community to |
effective and continued activity in con
trolling prostitution and its attendant |
evils such as the illicit traffic in drugs |
and liquors.
Lands Grand Jury
"That we commend the territorial
grand jury for its public spirited and |
courageous work in investigating the
restricted district and calling
for its abolition, and further that we |
are heartily gratihed at the position
taken upon the problem by the public
press;
"That we support the resultant &C,
tion which closed Iwilei, believing that
such action is based on common sense
method Of cleaning up an intolerable
and knowing that such action
is in conformity with the laws on our
statute books and the principle of sound
morals;
"That we heartily favor vigorous
notion by the pastors, church Organiza-
lions and congregations of the city to
arouse in their own membership and
within the scope Of their influence a
united and militant spirit that will of.
'S' W tue tNllS repre- !
'cnted in the system of cOmmercialized
vice and will array the religions OF the
'ity actively in the ranks Of those fight
ng for cleaner community;
viii support Chamber
That we hereby pledge our support
o the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce
n its plan for fighting vice conditions
'nd authorize the chairman of the
meeting to appoint committee of sew
N on organization, to be hereaft er
lam"d, and that we instruct the secre.
airy of this meeting to send communi.
alton to the special committee of the
'hambor of commerce named to investi.
,ntc the vice condition, such communi.
ati"n conveying the sense of this
meeting that we will cooperate and
.d\ l." with the chamber y special com
nltt"c I" the end that there may be
ontinurd and practical uction.''