Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/106

 and deed that every attempt to purify the national morals should touch and refine them all alike. As the good Baronet of Coverley observes, "the whole man must move forward." This principle will, to a considerable extent, explain the pledge which every member is called upon solemnly to take and religiously to keep. The pledge is as follows : —

"With thd help of God, I pledge myself to keep the following covenant : —

"(1) I will not attend any gatherings where nautches are present, or invite them myself, or do anything else that tends to encourage them.

"(2) I will not use impure language, or tell course jests, or sing indecent songs, or indulge in listening to such language, songs or jests.

"(3) I will not indulge in witnessing indecent pictures, paintings, or scenes.

"(4) I will not converse or read, for the sake of impure pleasure, about subjects that are calculated to suggest impure thoughts, and