Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-05-18
PURITANISM RAMPANT

In another column of the Graphic
will be- found Nmmunication from
th Rev. W. e. ChildreSs Of the Method
it church. answering an editorial that
nrp,ared IN the last issue Of the Ora
Thic. entitled Fish or Cut Bait" The
ca pbir said then and repcats now that
II doesn't care to enter into u contrO-
vcs>y with the ministers Of the city
and nut itself In the light Of opposition
t. ihcSc men Of God and the churches
of Christ which they represent. The
Gran bic believes that every person
should be- in the church and actively
supp porting the church. Therefore, what
il here said is not Ia be- construed ms
directed against either the ministers or
tie churches. and. least of all. the con-
Sccntious members Of the congrega-
items but against the errors which are
mani est in the communication before
referred to.
The Rev. ChildreSS assumes that the
teachers exercise a greater moral in
flupnce over the school children than
any ether person or persons, including
the nlrentS. To the Graphic this j.
unthnkable. since the teaching Of the
Chli tian religion. or any other re-
leiln. in the public schools l. spccifi
ctlg prohibited b" statute. The era
phic believes that the prayers and
tea, h,ngs of Christian mothers and
fathers aud the nrpcpDtS mculcated 10y
the church and above ALL the mighty
influence of the Church of Christ IT,
self furnish the moral environment
that determines the ethical conceptions
Of adolescence. Legally the parents
are held responsible for the conduct Of
the children Time and time again the
Graphic has seen parents try to shift
resp visibility In court, hut never with
sue, esS the law prcScrileS n prison
term for parents that neglect their
duty. II would be verv convenient 10
shift responsibility To- the teachers. but
il is neither just nor reasonable.
The Graphic nor the teachers for
that mHtter, do not doubt but that some
persons have n conscience ON the
matter Of dancing. We'll. let them eN-
crcisc it. leaving other persons 10 the
the free exercise Of their own without
emulsion II l. n question for indi-
viduals to determine for themselves.
No one T. forced to dance; dancing il
not tIught in the schools; dancing Is
not allowed at any school function. II
l. true that not only in Deming. but
ever this country and the world. the
person who does not dance Is unable
to take par! IN the most universal of
AN social diversions Largely he is n
wall flower and in the same cOndi- I
ton as some might he at the old-faSh- /.
Toned church Socials where kissing
gaines were INDUCED in. Dancing Is
considered an accomplishment among
man aud is made plrt of the education
of the young. However. the Graphic Is
not de.cnding the dance fiOm the moral
just points out its universal
character The devil has, no doubt,
found IL a handy instrument Of con
fusion Some persons want him 10
have exclusive rights therein.
The ethical reference may be dis
mis,cl 10y denying that the teachers
ARE urging the dance by precept or eX-
ample and that they only care To keep
their right To their own conscience
when out Of the school room and at
,ume the responsibility for the children
If the community.
The Rev. ChildreSS asks for informa-
ion rs To the program Of Community ,
Service and Community Service has
program 10 give The surprising thing I
: that the ministers Of the city do not
ieem To know of it. though 1t has ,
,ccn the subject Of exposition in both !
he local papers and at community A.,
unchcouS where its plans were formu-
tted AMI approved apparently. The
iraphic has talked with some Of the l
D. listers and they frankly admit that |
hey are engaged in destructive and not {
II constructive social work ut the pres /
MT time. However, they say that they q
ne clearing the ground for the struc- 1
u-c that they will build when hey have '
plan. The Graphic prints elsewhere 4
he program adopted and urged by I
Immunity Service and il will be seen \
hat the dance had but a small and in [
inilicaHt part In H. The ministers Of (
he city have not supported any Of the v
of Community Service, so far 81
II the Giauhic can learn. At least one II
llilNltl Wis lHNlleu 10 luht u seat hii I
he executive committee Of Community 4
crvice aud he did not even answer the u
atter which conveyed IT,
Church support NJ the chautau- n
ua is granted; what else could any l.
ansiblc pcrson or institution do? OPP y
usition to II WAS altogether outside n
Service and the churches 4
nj is not therefore pertinent TO the n
eat question involved. 81
In regard TO the paragraph dealing "
it'll ~nbandoned women" The editor I
~ known more about lewd women o
nan he would care to disclose. Eight
ears In the army and navy have meant Il
nat long practically with Gordon Of ii
abandoned women" around ship or 81
imp. Going ashore or on leave meant o.
-eaking through this Gordon. The ed II
or has worn the uniform Of the II
nifed States when II was quite as dis n
as the badge OF me Scarlet e.
atier Those who said the. were vir- A
ems. aud reall- seemed virfuOus. 81
ouldn't have anything to do with us W
r hateful pharisces. I.ewd women. is
Il occurred 10 the editor. were IN the n