The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-27
Dr. Edmonds Speaks
 on the Boy Problem

That the public is tremendously inter ested in the "boy problem" was evil denced last night when the seating ca pacty of the Lyric was taxed to hear Dr IT, Nj. Edmonds, pastor of the Inde- pendent Presbyterian church, speak or this subject.
 The situation that confronts us in Bir- thoughtful people to seek the remedy" said pr. Edmonds. The community is being burgla, ized by gangs of young boys, and all sorts of theft and depre- dation are laid to the door of these law less youths
 Cigars. candy, chewing gum, money. is being taken from stores. Automobiles rifled or carried off entirely Even hold ups have been made by boys whose school days are not over. The war has been largely responsible for this juvenile delin- quency. Fathers gone to the front, or in most cases some war activities. Teachers and pastors all busy in other quarters be- ca use of the war, and the youth is con- sequently neglected. His love of adven- ture, strengthened by the reading of mid night raids, airplanc raids, scouting on the lines, all these war stories fire his imagination He, feeling the essening of customary restraint on all sdes seeks adventure.
 BOYS IN JAIL
 Energy misdirected, in most cases. not criminal instincts, necessarily, are re- sponsible. The boy needs guardianship, so does the girl. There are in jail tonight about 20 young men, first offenders. over 16 too old for the state reformatories, the Boys Industrial school at East Lake. ..ty ! I1 cause there is not enough money to give the boy what he is entitled to. the right kind of food, clothing and housing? Perhaps the state is partly responsible too. Had father been sent up for an offense? What facility is provided for the education and upbringing of the chil- dren of that man? And, my friends. you and l are the state What is our responSi- bilty? The school system, too, may be partly at fault Does the present system give as much attention to character building and moral ideals as it does to reading and writing and all the rest?
 And our churches. Can we not defin- itely trace part of it to our churches? It is easy, I know. to tell how thing should be conducted, yet how to so con- duct our churches so that they shall be attractive to the boy is another thing
 70 that we might be kept young inside, lest we forget the feelings and hopes and inspirations of youth, and fail to under stand or sympathiz Doleful. dingy. and unattractive churches should give way to a more joyous, light and virile thing, tLat can reach and attract and hold the boy. Make it alluring to his feet.
 DUTIES OF PARENTS,
 How about the parents. what blame may we attach to them. that their boys ;r, inu9 Mar, nd xxyntrn summoned these young souls out of the other world, ard then you have left them, your central obligation in life, for clubs, literary, cards or what not. You are studying Ibson, mother. What do you know about your boy or your girl What is in his or her mind? What questions is he asking, with what is he occupied
 Father, how often do you spend a day with your boy fishing, sitting side by side, not to fish. but to get at the soul of your boy? Mothers. your very birth right is to hold the heart of your boy O. girl. Don't let it slip away from you. The secrets of his soul should be yours. his mother, What he reads enters large ly into whether he is good or bad. Is your boy feasting in the Dick Deadeye kind of stuff, or does his love of adven- ture and romance turn him to Cooper and Scott? Do you know what he reads !? Why don't you?
 What kind of shows does he see? Do you know? Many downward step had It's beginning in vile show. Do you pray for and with your boy? Men and women. the time and energy you give to your boy is well spent Youth and boyhood Is soon gone forever, and the rich reward you will reap when you sit back in old age and see the result of your training and your prayers will be the sweetest in l'fe''