Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/105

 our modern educated man with his "veneer" of fashion and to the scum of our society ; but few and far between are the thresholds in the land which the "black death" of inchastity has not at some time or other crossed. And yet next to nothing is being done to exorcise this fair devil. The whole nation, with just a few honourable exceptions, is conniving at, or partaking in, the sin ; confessing by its very silence or indifference how wide-spread is the malady and how urgent the reform.

Consequently, to those that are really desirous of promoting the moral health of the nation it may be welcome news that, in the historic town of Masulipatam, a "Social Purity Association" has been started for watching or improving the moral character of its members and others. As yet our number is no doubt extremely small, and our Association very tiny ; but, as a great man once remarked, such must be the necessary feature of all good and righteous institutions.— There is such close mutual relation between thought, word