Without any noise or special announcement, 200 earnest men and women gathered in a San Francisco conference, for a plain and frank discussion of a topic which had made its way for the first time into an International Sunday-school Convention program. This matter has been shunned all too long by the home, the school, the press and the church. The recent and wonderful awakening on the purity question is prophetic of a better day, and God has thrust the Sunday-school into this work at the psychological moment. This quiet and unheralded conference led to action which no one may estimate. History. Mr. E. K. Warren introduced the subject by telling how five years ago he listened to a lecture which revealed such startling conditions, that he secured the lecturer for the State Sunday-school Convention, where 500 men were profoundly impressed with these revelations. The result was the conviction of the absolute necessity of a general education on sex matters. To aid in a proper enlightenment, Michigan organized the first Sunday-school Purity Department. During the four years timid workers have been encouraged, teachers have been led to teach, pastors to preach, lectures have been given, literature distributed, and much personal work done. Michigan believes that God led in this new departure, that He is blessing these efforts, and that such efforts should be put forth in every State. The Need. Mr. E. K. Mohr, the Superintendent of the Michigan purity work, was then introduced and took charge of the conference. To show the need of such work the statements were made, that in purity we have the reform of reforms; that there is nothing which entails so much misery on the human race as the sin of impurity, and there is no happiness so great as the happiness of a pure heart in a clean body; that the teaching of the street and the playground is universal, uncontrollable, incorrect and degrading, and this teaching must be anticipated and neutralized by right teaching; also that the home, which is God's first and holiest school,'' is not ready and not willing to give the needed instruction, and so the Sunday-school must help in the work. A Large Place. The following reasons were given indicating the place and the plan of such Sunday-school endeavor: 1. As purity is largely and essentially a moral question, the Sundayschool injecting into it the tremendous moral force of childhood and of religious education, marks an epoch in the fight for a white life. 2. As the text book of the Sunday-school places a strong emphasis on purity, the Bible teacher must "stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name. "" 3. Next to the home the Sunday-school comes nearest to our community life with a close, sympathethic, heart touch, and therefore occupies a strategic place in this teaching. 4. In every conflict between the dark and the light, between the wrong and the right, that side wins the victory, which wins the children. Childhood is the key to our problems and the Sunday-school has its hand on that key. 5. It is true now that "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" but knowledge in itself will not save. The positive evil must be driven out by the positive good. The church has this winning message: The Evangel of a Savior will free the slave of vice. "And we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 6. Of necessity, our Sunday-school Purity Work must be educational Out of this and preventive, rather than legislative and reformative. education and agitation, as always, will grow all necessary action. A Request. The Conference gave expression to its conclusions by giving unanimous endorsement to the following request: "In view of the demand for guidance in teaching personal purity, and realizing the appalling need of the same, and in the fitness of the Sunday-school for the work, we earnestly request the Executive Committee to take such action on the matter as shall ultimate in a Department of Personal Purity.” PROBLEMS OF THE PHYSICAL AWAKENING E. K. MOHR, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. The sex element constitutes the real problem of the adolescent. The gift and power of reproduction makes the change from boyhood into manhood, and from girlhood into womanhood possible, and all achievement is based upon it. To control and direct this energy is the problem. A part of the problem is the conserving of these powers for the years of maturity. It takes time to get humans ready, physically, mentally, and spiritually to render humanity the best service. Passing through the initial period of adolescence does not justify the entering upon the duties and responsibilities of married life. Sexual excitement during the period of adolescence means undermining of nerves, ruin to health, and, by and by, sickly, peevish and stupid offspring. These years of development should be regarded with reverential care and every rule of health kept as a sacred obligation. Our problem of adolescence is instruction. G. Stanley Hall says: "There is no other such a state of utter plasticity, such hunger for counsel and advice as comes in early adolescence. Shall the boy be laughed at and tantalized because of voice, and sprouting mustache, and awkwardness; teased and scolded and made to feel that he is not a very desirable adjunct to the household? Nature is undergoing a revolution, which may easily lead to devolution. Instruction, if it is to avail, must be patient, friendly and sympathetic. Happy the boy or girl with wise, loving parents to lead safely through this period of stress and strain into a strong and pure maturity. How often there is need of a "big brother or sister" when parents are criminally ignorant or negligent. The boy needs not only the instruction as to his own life but that of his sister as well. It will mean care and protection to that sister, and to future wife, and chivalrous conduct towards all womankind. Judge Ben. B. Linsey says: "I am convinced that this whole moral question among children, instead of being a question to be avoided, as it has been heretofore, by word of mouth or pen, is by far the most important problem that concerns the preservation of the American home, and as such can no longer be dodged but must be squarely met. Beside this question, the mere matter of the boy or girl, who steals or runs away is of small moment. If, then, the nation decay, as it must if the home is undermined, it is because mothers and fathers have proved false; it is because mothers and fathers are traitors to childhood's sacred These are strong words, truly, but I have facts from actual experience upon which to base them.'' cause. It is the parents' right, and privilege, and duty to impart this knowledge, but where parents are unfit, untaught, ignorant or unthinking, then someone else must see to it, for the sake of the cleaner, healthier, purer minded and clearer headed man and woman. Knowledge in itself will not save. It is the quality of sex knowledge, its purity and regard, that makes for worth or peril. How important at this time is the spiritual vision focused upon Jesus Christ and interpreted by divinely controlled manhood and womanhood. The Bible is needed here for the essential foundation principles upon which we can safely build. A suggestion or two may not be out of order as to the instruction indicated. As everywhere, "we cannot teach what we do not know, and we cannot lead where we do not go." Atmosphere is a large factor always. Goody-goody talk has no place here. Sentiment plays havoc with the emotions. The treatment of this problem should be natural, straight and business-like. It is a law of our being to prove things, by all means let us lead to the proving of the positive. Vices are virtues gone astray. To overcome a vice cultivate its opposite virtue. Divested of mystery, secrecy and prudery, these adolescents must be given a clear understanding of the changes which are taking place within. Devoid of any uncleanliness of thought, they should understand themselves as marvelous pieces of machinery, to be understood, cared for and controlled-also that carelessness here works far more dire results to self and others than the carelessness of the engineer with his engine. If rightly done, these great and sacred truths can be safely and successfully taught anywhere. DEPARTMENT OF LESSONS LESSON COMMITTEE, 1908-1914. Rev. A. F. Schauffler, D. D................... 105 E. 22d St., New York, N. Y. Prof. Ira Maurice Price, Ph. D., LL. D.. The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. Prin. Elson I. Rexford, M. A., LL. D.. Pres. W. Douglas Mackenzie, D. D., LL. D. Rev. Conrad Clever, D. D..... Prof. Melancthon Coover, D. D.. Prof. F. C. Eiselen, Ph. D., D. D. Justice J. J. Maclaren, D. C. L., LL. D. . Chairman .Secretary .Louisville, Ky. Memphis, Tenn. .Montreal, Que. .Louisville, Ky. Winnipeg, Man. ..Hartford, Conn. .Los Angeles, Cal. .Lexington, Ky. .Hagerstown, Md. .Gettysburg, Pa. .Evanston, Ill. .Toronto, Ont. Prof. Wm. G. Moorehead, D. D., LL. D. .Xenia, Ohio ...Chester, Pa. REPORT OF THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY- I. Election and Organization. The Seventh International Sunday-school Lesson Committee-American Section-was elected at the Twelfth International Sunday-school Convention at Louisville, Kentucky, June 20, 1908 (see Appendix I). On the afternoon of the same day, the new Committee was organized by the election of a Chairman and Secretary for the ensuing six years; and by the appointment of three subcommittees (see Appendix II), viz: |