Document 2: Aaron M. Powell, "The Moral Elevation of Girls," Philanthropist, 1 (February 1886), pp. 5-6.

Introduction

        In the following article, Powell reported on the activities of Grace H. Dodge and Virginia Potter, who had formed a Working Girls' Society in New York City. Dodge, recognizing the importance of preventive work to keep girls "pure," took the unusual step of providing sex education to working women.[7] In this article, Powell especially emphasized the importance of well-to-do "ladies" providing examples to working women to help them resist the temptations that purity reformers believed went hand-in-hand with working in factories and department stores. This emphasis highlighted the class aspects of both purity reform and the age-of-consent campaign--daughters who did not go out to work, reformers believed, remained protected within their families. Working women were preyed upon by seducers--often their employers, supervisors, or customers.

THE MORAL ELEVATION OF GIRLS.

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       One of the encouraging signs of this era is the tendency in all philanthropic efforts to consider more the causes of evils which we are called upon to alleviate. A good illustration of this praiseworthy, preventive work is the Committee of the State Charities Aid Association of New York, which aims for the elevation of the poor in their homes, of which Miss Grace H. Dodge is chairman and Miss Virginia Potter secretary. From a report recently published, giving suggestions concerning this effort, we quote the following: "Many earnest women are devoting their lives to the task of raising those who have fallen, but many more are needed to hinder others from falling, to thwart the evil that threatens young lives, to interrupt temptation, and stop the feet of those who run to destruction."

       The practical methods employed for reaching those who need this helpfulness are the formation of Girl’s "Friendly" Societies, Working Girl’s Societies, Good Will Clubs, etc. In these organizations, by wise tact and a sympathetic interest, the members are led to conduct them themselves, the aim being to encourage self-respect and to stimulate a general improvement of character. These young girls are very sensitive to any thing that has the aspect of a charity and these efforts wisely take on the character of co-operative help. The evenings are made pleasant and profitable. Instruction and amusement are blended, opportunities are given for friendly talks on many topics, and confidential relations are established. Some of the women who have become interested in these young girls in this way have had revelations of the temptations which assail them that have led them to see the necessity of broadening the efforts for their protection. We commend to all a careful reading of the thoughts presented in this pamphlet under the heading of Girlhood, from which we make the following extracts:

       "In all intercourse, ladies should show loving attention in little things to the girls. They crave love and its demonstration, and seldom receive it from an overworked mother or grasping father. What wonder that they readily believe the first man who promises it to them, and that they are so often led astray by their affection. The temptations put forth in alluring shape by the foremen, superintendents, and other men working in the same shop or factory, can hardly be believed by those who are not subjected to such influences. It is a horrible thought that hundreds of girls are led into lives of sin by those who ought to protect and guard them. Three girls were once found in the maternity ward of a New York hospital all giving the same name as that of the man who had brought them to deep distress and who was the foreman of the factory where they all worked."

       "To give the girls some knowledge of their physical structure and the special functions of their sex, to teach them to reverence the body as the very temple of the Holy Spirit, and to deplore every thought, act, and habit that profanes it; to urge them to shun every temptation to impurity, and to guard themselves and others from the first approaches of evil--these are the lessons and counsels which every older woman who befriends these young girls should be prepared to impress upon them. To ignore these subjects is to neglect a most important part of this preventive work, and to neglect that has brought shame and misery into many a young life. But the method of giving this instruction must be left to the individual teacher. It must be in accordance with her character and experience. Great harm can be, and has been done, by the indiscriminate presentation of ideas and images that may shock and offend a young person’s sensibilities. That wise reserve in regard to the relations of the sexes which characterizes the English speaking race is not to be lightly broken in upon. At the same time there are often cases where the plainest language should be used. Whether in an impersonal way, to several girls in a class, or privately, to one alone, must depend upon circumstances."

       "At a time when a girl’s head is naturally full of romance, love and marriage, it is most desirable that her older lady friend (or, if it happen so, her young lady friend) should encourage her to talk about the men she is seeing, and the attentions she receives from them. For this may lead to many important confidences, and the girl’s life, in consequence, may be guarded from evil and largely influenced for good. Only those who feel the great responsibility of this confidential intercourse should undertake it, however. The influence of a refined girl upon one of coarser nature is wonderful, but there should be no false notes struck here! Like the quality of mercy, this intercourse is twice blessed when reverently conducted: it blesses the giver, who constantly learns more the meaning of her own pure womanhood, and to whom foolish jesting becomes more and more hateful as she recognizes the injury done by it in the lives of young girls. It blesses the taker, who sees the beauty of holiness in the life of her friend, and who aims to make her own life beautiful in the same way. It is holy ground on which to stand. None should approach it presumptuously. Again, let none fear to do so whose hearts are touched with the sentiment of love. The way will be shown and the light will grow clearer and brighter. Only let all look to the common Heavenly Father for guidance and help. Let rich and poor, high and low, gentle and simple, refined and coarse, educated and ignorant, know Him as one who loves and cares for them, not only in the great matters of their lives, but in their daily little trials and perplexities. So, in teaching that no noble life can be led without Him, all will learn that they may enter the kingdom of heaven now, and it shall be to all their present peace and future home."

       We need not despair of reaching better conditions of society when this phase of philanthropic work is undertaken in this spirit and with these ennobling ends in view. Supplementing this teaching with that of the White Cross Movement, which appeals to the better instincts of manhood, we shall in time attain to the ideal standard of social purity so much to be desired.

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