leap in 1963. Another amazing fact, contrary to common opinion, is that for 1963, for instance, 78 out of 119 girls came from UNBROKEN homes, while only 35 came from broken homes! Likewise, 78 of these for the same year were “ high school girls,” with only 13 college girls. The rest were working girls, except a mere 7 who were unemployed. What is even more astounding is that 85 of these came from Protestant homes, 32 from Catholic homes, and only two from homes with no religious back ground or some other religion! Evi dently, many “nice girls” are getting into trouble. Furthermore, we must consider that other types of girls who get into trouble often do not bother to go to a Home. These figures also represent a higher type of girl from better homes, and are some what selective. They are sobering, nonetheless, even as they stand. Fairhaven Executive D ir e c t o r , Donald Pownell, states another dis turbing fa ct: “While the national birthrate has been decreasing during the past four years, the illegitimacy rate is rapidly rising. The most rapid rise is among those over 20 years of age.” He explains. further: “While the number from broken homes seems to be rising, many of the homes would seem to be average in income, edu cation and cultural advantages. Many are members of churches . . . even the number of girls raised in par sonages is appalling!” (Italics mine.) Mr. Pownell noted also that “ Preg nancy is not scholastically selective. We have girls who are scholastically low, many who are average . . . and some who have a very high I.Q.”
Fairhaven in Sacramento, California, seeks to provide a Christian home and hospital fo r unwed mothers in need. Clean facilities are provided in the buildings.
ment plans are being discussed. Then they should be kept on the highest level and never allowed to descend to the place of passion-arousing discus sions. This is not love, and may lead to arousing lustful, fleshly desires, which should be repelled and held in check, even as one would hold in check any other human desires which are unwholesome. Fourth, extreme petting is possi bly responsible for more difficulty be tween couples than any other one thing. This is purely physical and biological, and has no true basis in love before marriage. This is the type of play in which married cou ples should engage, and is very un becoming for single people, even though engaged. It is both emotion ally and psychologically upsetting and unwholesome. It develops desire and creates tensions which cannot be satisfied without sinful indulgence, and is therefore a bad practice. Reports from F a irhaven Rest Home for Girls, Sacramento, Califor nia, a state-licensed home operated by a group of dedicated Christians, for unwed pregnant girls, are en lightening. Their official figures show a steady increase in such cases over the past three years, from 107 girls admitted in 1961 to 119 in 1963. The peak age in 1961 and 1962 was 17, while it dropped to 16 by a large
youth, in a day when they are far more enlightened about biological and physiological matters of sex than their elders? Every normal girl looks forward to a lovely wedding, and a happy mar riage, with a good husband. No nor mal girl willingly would sacrifice all this for the wanton pleasure of sex ual indulgence which destroys all hope of any of this in the end. What, then, are the major contributing fac tors causing thousands of teenage girls every year to have to meet the stork without a wedding? Several things contribute to this situation. First, far too many girls haven’t anywhere in their homes to entertain their dates. This means car riding to far away places in some instances and late hours of return ing. Many times it indicates bore dom, for the want of anything to do. So, it is natural that the couple find extreme petting, playing, and other exploratory ventures all too easy to accomplish. Second, lack of any proper recrea tional outlets and things to do to gether are also another contributor. Third, discussions of matters per taining to sex when alone are often responsible for ventures which are unwholesome. There is no need to discuss such matters until engage ment, or at least, till the pre-engage- 14
School and studies continue at Fair haven as girls await their time. Pointing out one reason for the rising tide of births out of wedlock, Director Pownell says, “Unfortun ately, unwed intercourse is becoming socially acceptable in the teenage bracket. The sin is to be caught.” He further states that “ incest is also a larger problem than acknowledged. THE KING'S BUSINESS
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