The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-21

ship" may be an easy way of GOVERNS
a multitude of sins.
Parents are In real sense tn
guardians of the morals of their chile
dren. The first responsibility ~ upon
them. No matter what the Mayor
does or does not do, you are justly &C.
countabie for the oversight of your
children. We are told that many pub
lie school children frequent the
movies, and that special Inducements
of half rates are made to attract them.
These children are at the Impressions
able and susceptible age. The idea
that they must know evil before they
can resist IL successfully, or that they
must go to the Cevll before they can
come to God, has long since been exc
ploded 1t is the doctrine of the devil.
1t is a shame for parents to remain
Indifferent to the character of enter-5
tainments their children attend. and Il
is a reproach that some parents attend
these indecent shows themselves
Need to Protect Children.
Virginia is enacting prohibition
laws and endeavoring to eradicato
drunkenness and reduce the evil Of
drink While we are passing These
laws, our movies are featuring women
and the wine cup under the label
Her First Drink" The legislature
has enacted n law against the red-
light district; and while we are try-s
ing by legislation to eliminate that
evil, the moving pictures of Richmondf
are featuring the underworld and give
ing our boys and girls glimpses into
houses of ill-repute. What fncon
sistency! I plead with every mother
and father in this congregation that
you keep your children from these
scenes and set them the example by
remaining away yourself.
Many of the young people of this
congregation live In Richmond and
their parents are elsewhere. You are
trying to live upright, high-toned
lives II is a struggle with some: but
/ never doubt that your desire is for
the best BY the memory of your
cody parents, by the regard for your
own character, and by the highest tn-g
terest of this community, / ask YOU
to discourage in every possible way
these indecent plays. Richmond needs
moral sentiment that will frown
upon everything that suggests evil.
Some day we will have a real censor-
ship in Richmond. If 1t does not come
through the City Council, 1t must CONS
through the Legislature. If the bold
ness and effroa4tery of the recent pic
lures shown In Richmond shall hasten
that day. then in the providence Of
God, they may not be an unmitigated
curse. We know that the lawlessnesa
of the liquor traffic fastened Its over
throw, and history may be repeating
itself in the show business of Rich
mond.
Must Rebuke Sin.
No community Is better than the
moral sentiment of its people. Rich
mond Is too much disposed to let sin
go unrebuked. Our people love peace.
They detest the sensational. There
be those. and some of them church
members, who discount the minister
who expresses an opinion upon moral
and social welfare. It Is a pity that
! II Is so. But this shall never deter me:
| The day will come when these people.
/ reared In the atmosphere OF conserva-
tism OF a smaller and more moral
community, will awakef-to the real
situation. While they sleep an enemy
sows tares in the wheat fields. Rich-
mond grows in numbers and in conse-
quent perils. We must be on guard.
The parents and moral people OF this
community as well as the ministers.
should keep sleepless vigil over our
| young people If their minds are
poisoned and their morals corrupted,
our city will become a moral cessp0ol,
and in the years to come our own folly
will mock US and our children win
reproach US. May Almighty God for.
| bid.