VENEREAL DISEASE AND THE ARMY—AN APPEAL.
Ire TBE Locus or IBS " SPECTATES:1 SI72—The National Council of Public Morals, of which I am the President, has determined to issue to the men of His Majesty's Forces the enclosed booklet prepared for us by Dr. Giles. I have given special care to the matter myself, as lam satisfied that any publication on this vital subject must be most wisely drawn up if more harm than good is not to be the result. I consider that Dr. Giles has succeeded admirably. The essentials which he has, in my judgment, kept in view are t- (1) The recognition of the fact, to which I can bear personal witness from many years' close association with them, that the desire of our young soldiers is just as great for clean living as is that of any other sot of men of whatever class in life. (2) That healthy knowledge of certain dangers is a help in a difficult time of temptation, and that every man has the right to such assistance.
(3) That the part which religion has to play in this matter is to show that true manhood is the expectation of God for us, and that lie will stand by any child of His who finds that his passions are too strong for him. (4) That it is the surest way of spoiling the fall beauty of a great love for a good woman to have helped to hurt the character and lower the purity of any member of her sex. We want at least £500 in order to place this pamphlet in the bands of the men of His Majesty's Forces. If you, Sir, approve of our effort, I hope you will lend us your powerful support. We think it is a manly effort on behalf of men. I may add that Mrs. Mary Seharlieb, M.D., so well known for her scientific and sympathetic work to every one who values true womanhood, has provided us with a similar appeal to her own sex, equally valuable, of which we hope also to issue many thousanda—Thanking you for giving spare to this
letter, I am, Sir, &c., H. R. BIRMINGHAM. Bishopscroft, Birmingham.
[We have read the pamphlet by Dr. Giles of which the Bishop of Birmingham speaks. In our opinion, ho does not in the least exaggerate its merits. The clear, sane, and straight. forward style in which it is written is a model for all such appeals. Though it is animated by a truly religious spirit, there is not a trace of religious patronage, and it would be as bene- ficial to a professed agnostic as to a Christian. Its simplicity and sincerity are so apparent that the most sensitive lad could read it without shyness or, again, without the sense of being preached at. We note with special satisfaction that it dwells upon the duty of any person infected at once doing his best to get cured by seeking sound medical advice and help. We trust that the Bishop will quickly obtain the money needed for giving a wide publicity to the pamphlet. Any inquiries in regard to the pamphlet and how to obtain it should be addressed, not to us, but to the Secretary of the National Council of Public Morale, 42 Great Russell Street, London, W.C.—En. Spectator.]
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