"PERILS OF IMPURITY."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81831, 25 August 1906, Page 2

"PERILS OF IMPURITY."

Mr Bligli, who is travelling under the auspices of the White Cross League, addressed a very enthusiastic mcetiii:» at Whitcley Hall on Fridiy ni.j'u, His Worship the ilayor presiding. Mr Bligh announced his subject " lhe Reproduction of Life " Man, he said, was very enthusiastic and keen on the breeds of cattle, stock, and plants, but not in ! lie reproduction of his own species. There was something wrong here, when a man was so proud of the blue ribbon round the neck of a cow, or of the flower that he luid cultivated from the siao of a button to the size of a saucer, and took not the slightest interest in the better production of a better race of men. The mau showed his commonsonse in the matter of stock and plant life, but it seemed the right tiling to assume mock modesty in this matter of su<:h vital ■ interest to the race. The same law of , held in plant, bird, and 1 lifo. The birds paired aul . mated, and built and lined their nests, ■ | an; l the birds took turn about to hutch

:heir young, the male bird sitting close by and singing to cheer the life of his

mate—a lesson that men might learn to their advantage. Passing on to the family life, the lecturer said that if the children were sensibly taught on this matter, they would grow and respect it, and the better respect their mothers and fathers. But, instead of this, the

mother declined to impart the knowlodge ; and the child went elsewhere, to some schoolmate, perhaps; and instead of looking upon the law of life as a picture from God, saw a

gruesome picture of misery, that ruined, perhaps, his respect for his mother. There were men who objected to boys being taught to see this matter properly, and when, a lad went wrong these men, and not the lad, would bo to blame. Air

Bligli asked the men present to aid in bringing up the boy as a true man, who would hit another in the eye if he heard him insulting a girl or speaking disrespectfully of her; a boy who, hearing the weaker sex disparaged, would ask hoiv the other fellow would like the remarks made about his own sister; a boy who would refuse to liiten to suggestive "yarns." Boys should be taught the principles of the true manly life, so that tlicy could pass unscathed through the temptations which beset them on either hand, urging the necessity for a purity born of knowledge rather than innocence born of ignoraitee, which generally ended in iinimrity, ill-health, and sin" Quack doctors were unsparingly denounced for their methods of extorting money from young men and l ids, whom he advised to take their troubles to the best doetor in their own town, uttering the truism that their best friend was a good doctor. Mr Bligli askol that help, sympathy and love, not contempt and derision, should be held out to the fallen nvm or the fallen woman. He asked Ihem to play the part of men, controlling the passions, which were then a master Friend, but uncontrolled were man's worst enemy. Addressing the older men present, he stated that it was their duty, even as they erected n lighthouse to keep a shin clear of the rocks, it was also incumbent 011 them to erect lighthouses to keep the lads oil the rocks of impurity. Boys were being cruelly dealt with by men who were content to allow them to err in ignorance.

On tke motion of ficv. P. G Evans, seconded by Key. S, S. Osborne, both of whom were 011 the platform, a most kearty vote of thanks was accorded tke lecturer, and a similar compliment to the .Mayor closed a most useful and enthusiast in meeting. After this lecture we can confidently recommend parents to attend Sunday night's lecture and lake tkeir boys with theiu.