Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-27
MINISTER PAYS
fine TRIBUTE TO
WOMEN'S HOME
Rev. RObt. r. LeavenS Tells Of
Good Being Done by Or.
FindIey and the Deten-
ton Home.

The Womsn's Detention home
was paid a glowing tribute yester-
day morning by the Rev. Robt. F.
Leavens in discourse to his con-
gregation at the First Unitarian
church,
"The Path Of Virtue" was the
subject Of the sermon, which fol-
lowed a visit to the home by the
minister on the invitation of DR..
Palmer Findley, medical director.
DR.. Findley, Miss Alta Burger, SD
perintendent of the institution, and
Wilma Rice, inmate at the prison,
and self-acknowledged prostitute,
occupied front seats in the church.
Both DIR. Findley and Miss Bur-
ger were lauded by the speaker for
their work at the home, and after
Miss Burger acknowledged an in
PRODUCTION to the congregation by
rising from her seat, Miss Rice was
urged to give testimonial for the
institution, in which she is confined.
She declared that while her sins
were re dixie crimson, they were
now white like wool. For this, she
said, all honor was due the Women's
Detention home.
Information Second Hand.
Miss Rice is the woman whose re-
quest several weeks ago to address
the Women's club was spurned.
At the conclusion of the services
Rev. Leavens told a reporter for
The Bee he based his discourse en-
tirely upon what he was told by
DR.. Findley, together with what
came to his observation at the home
in company with the physician. The
minister asserted he was not permit
ted to talk privately with any Of the
inmates. He also said he did not
investigate the charges registered
by many women and Officer Jesse
Black, former employe, who al
lege cruelty to the inmates and
abuse of authority on the part Of
the management.
There are two of our three daily
papers always ready and too eager
for an attack on the city admin
istration at the slightest provoca-
ton, asserted the minister.
Mayor Smith also was condemned
because his stand is not in accord
with those who defend the manage
ment of the Women's Detention
home. Ut
AS an introduction to his sermon,
Rev. Mr.. Leavens read the Bible
story of the Magdalene with whom
Christ was tainted; upon the oc-
casion the one without sin was d.
rected to cast the first stone.
After ali" he said, 1--WE belong to
the same family. Jesus hand was
ready to extend the cup of saliva
ton to this woman Of the streets. Z"
Cannot Ignore Prostitution.
Mr. LeaNens declared he had not
attempted to make an exhaustive
study of the evil of prostitution in
Omaha "and for that reason will
not try to outline its dimensions.
It is an evil, however" continued
the minister, I'VE cannot afford to
ignore.
I'VE know that these diseases are
widespread even to the extent of
driving us to dismay.
The cover has been lifted, though.
and we see the conditions in the
reflection of natures mirror. This
is qeestion that cannot be handled
in the freedom with which we deal
with the liquor traffic and the wage
proposition"
The minister declared that the
world was becoming better, and in
order to keep from taking a back
ward course, physical fitness must
be reckoned with as necessary to
moral uplift. He said physicians
were blazing the way in this direc-
ton.
Tribute to the Home.
The speaker then launched into a
tribute to the Women's Detention
home and DR. Findley. He said
the conditions which came to his
observation at the home were de-
serving of the highest praise. "One
cannot but see the atmosphere of
good" he said. I'm their words and
in the expressions of their faces yon
are impressed with the spiritual
gratitude which nils the heart Of
these girls"
The minister declared that there
should be prison in Omaha for
men who were infected BY social
diseases. He denounced the sys-
TEN which permitted men to live a
double life and did not recognize
women who did the same thing.
1t is righteous indignation
aroused by the double standard
which permits a man to do a thing
his sister is condemned for doing"
he said. by all means, say, we
should have place to compel men
to take the same treatment the wom-
en- are given. Man is the chief Of
fender, and why should he not be
made to subject himself to the same
treatment the women are under
going for the protection of society,""
At the conclusion of the services,
Rev. Mr.. Leavens, addressing him
self to Dr. Findley, Miss Burger and
Miss Rice, pledged the support Of
his church to the Detention home.