YOUTH'S MORAL PROBLEMS
By SCOTT T. CLARK *
I AM always interested in young peo ple, having been a teacher for more than a third of a century. The youth of this age (as well as those of every other age) deserve all the good help that can be given them in their tempta tions and struggles for a noble worth while life. The big question is : What will really help them? Some attempted helps, we fear, have been only hin drances. Educators and writers have differed widely in their theories of solutions for youth’s sex problems. Some have ad vocated “ self-expression.” These have erred badly by supposing that such ex pressions would be right and correct. They failed to recognize the corruption of the human heart and lustful pas sions. So this philosophy has led far astray from the path of wisdom and uprightness. Others have advocated “trial marriages,” or “ companionate marriage.” Many college and university young people have thus lived together. This is no less than licensed adultery. Only eternity will reveal the deplorable consequences of these false teachings. It is often said, “ Youth wants the facts about sex nature and sex prob lems wholesomely presented.” Much depends upon the motives of such young people. Why do they want this informa tion? I have some deep convictions on this matter : First. Mere facts alone will not in sure victory in sex struggles, nor solve our immoral problems. Sex emotions and passions are the most powerful emotions of the human soul. Many young people and older ones, too, have gone down in defeat and shame, when, all the while, they knew better. Some of those now serving sentences in prisons are among the most learned. About thirty years ago, when our boys were drafted in the first World War, we were shocked by the high per cent of boys turned down as physically unfit, because of venereal disease. The Edu cational Department of the Government sent out literature to principals and presidents of high schools and colleges, urging instruction on sex hygiene, and the dangers of immoral living. That was fine as far as it went, but our lead ers were mistaken in presuming that ‘Friends Bible College. Haviland. Kan. Used by permission of UEA magazine Page Fourteen
and Mother gave us no sex instruction, as such, but they raised us around the family altar, kept us in Sunday school and church as much as possible, and held before us principles of a pure life and noble ideals, which proved a safe guard in times of temptation. We admit many blunders, shortcomings, and mis takes; but we had a spiritual heritage which proved an anchor through the “choppy waters” of youth, and a source of strength in the battles of life. In raising our own family of six children, we, too, have held to Father’s and Mother’s God, and the old family altar; now, we are glad that the children are all living clean Christian lives. There are some good wholesome books on sex problems of youth which can be had. I cannot tell how helpful such books were to me as, Perfect Manhood, What a Young Man Ought to Know, and Reproduction and Sexual Hygiene. The author of this last book, Dr. Win field Scott Hall, came to the city where I was in college, and in the city audi torium, gave an address to men only. That lecture has been helpful to me all through life. I know that some will say that those books are obsolete, narrow, and puritanic. But there are recent books which are good, and would be excellent for young men and women to read. Manual of Sex Education, Paths to Beautiful Womanhood and Paths to Noble Manhood, by C. F. Derstine; For Better—Not for Worse, by Walter A. Maier; The Virtuous Woman and The Way of a Man with a Maid, by Oscar Lowry; Christian Manhood, by Dr. Merle Eshleman and Dr. Noah K. Mack; Ideals for Earnest Youth, by A. Thomas Rowe; Homes Build Persons, by Garry Cleveland Meyers; Make Yours a Happy Marriage, by O. A. Geiseman; The Sanctity of Sex, by Frank A. Lawes; Our Concern Is Chil dren, by Irene Smith Caldwell; Youth’s Problem No. 1, by Alfred L. Murray. If young people would spend more time reading such books, instead of listening to foolish Hollywood radio stories, and feeding their minds and passions on suggestive movie pictures, they would find real help in their sex problems, and struggle for a clean happy life. Third. Human wisdom and man’s philosophy, without the help of God, (Continued on Page 17) T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
when youth knew the facts, they would live clean. But what do we now have after thirty years? — lower morals, more delinquents, increased crimes, and multiplied divorces and broken homes. No, mere education about sex is not the remedy. Second. The successful solution to our sex problems, and real help in the strug gles to a clean happy life, is in turning back to God, the Bible, religion, and divine assistance. But many will not accept the Bible way for a clean happy way of life, using such smear words as “ Puritanism,” “ blue laws,” “ straight jackets,” and “mossbacks.” To be sure, there have been many blunders and failures among religious leaders, but God’s Word is very clear on sexual matters. “ Thou shalt not commit adul tery” (Ex. 20:14). “ Be not deceived, neither fornicators, idolators, nor adul terers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind—shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9, 10). “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). “ Blessed [happy] are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). “Whatsoever things are true, whatso ever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). God knew what was best for our good and our happiness. Youth and adults may neglect and depart from God’s holy Word, but in so doing they lessen their chance of a happy, useful life. Young people and adults of all ages, who have heeded God’s laws, have lived good, happy lives. But the tragedy of our present age is that coo many godly homes, family altars, and church at tendance have been crowded out by im pure movies showing love triangles, un faithfulness to the sacred marriage vows, and drinking scenes. The average modern home is lacking something very vital, which was the anchorage of our foreparents, and the safeguard of their children. There was a large number of children in Father’s and Mother’s family. We were poor country folks. All of us chil dren went through the country schools, some finished high schools, and two struggled on through college. Father
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