SOCIAL PURITY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 26, 25 October 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL PURITY

KBPOfiT TO THE ANGLICAN SYNOD. A lengthy report on social purity was submitted ut Tuesday night's sitting of tho Diocesan Synod, Clmetcliureh, by Use Hev. 1". H. Taylor, on behalf of the; Select Committee set up in connection , with the matter. Tho report elated that tho war had most enormously increased the.urgency and 6Copo of tho problem. Tho committal felt that its-would be nothing short of a disaster if tho Church ftt this time failed to hear effective witness on the side of purity. It seemed necessary to reassert the principle of purity as equally binding on men and wonien and to empJiasfse tho Christian ideal that the mamfigo bond was torniinablo only by tho death of one of the parties. _ The conimitteo made the following recommendations for adoption by the •Synod:— (1) That His Lordship the Bishop be asked to appoint a day or a season in which attention should be simultaneously given throughout the diocese to the subjuct of social purity, and that this time he observed as an opportunity for intercession, instruction, aud exhortation in the cause of purity. (1) That attention be drawn to the direct connection between luxurious living and immorality, and that Church people fos- their own sake as an example to others, should adopt a simple standard of living in respect both of food and drink. (3) That Church people should use eveiy legitimate moans for keeping the amusements of the peoplo free from anything which tended to deaden the moral sense or incite the animal passions. (•1) That every effort be made to discourage the exhibition and circulation of immodest pictures and indecent literature. (5) That tho teaching of ethics apart from religion must be considered a failure.

(C) That great care should be taken to keep the minds and habits of little children free from contamination. (7) That there was urgent need for stricter parental control of toys and girls in the adolescent etage. (S) That the clergy lie asked to use the opportunity provided by the marriage sermon for upholding the Christian idea of wedlock.

(9) That it was desirable that women patrols be provided to watch over the welfare of women and girls in the streets and other public, places. In conclusion, the committee suggested that the following resolutions bo adopted by Sjynod, n'nd communicated to ithepersons indicated:— (1) Tho first of the foregoing recommendations.

(2) That tho clergy, churchwardens, vestries, and other bodies bo requested to tako action in their own districts with a view- to cheeking impurity and promoting a higher standard ot morality. (3) That the Standing Committee be requested to set up without delay a subcommittee to considar tho best methods by which the recommendations of the report might be carried into effect. Tho Hev, F. N. Taylor moved that serious consideration of the report be made an order of the clay for 6omo fiuitablo Uino during tho session, and it was decidod that it should bo such an order for Tuesday evening.—Christchurch "Sun."