nl_e17

Welty, "The Need of White Cross Work," 1895
Document 20: Excerpts from Rev. J. B. Welty, "The Need of the White Cross
Work," in The National Purity Congress, Its Papers, Addresses, Portraits (New
York: American Purity Alliance, 1896), pp. 240-49.
Introduction
The White Cross society, founded in England in the early 1880s to help young
men practice sexual abstinence, quickly spread to the United States sponsored by
American Episcopalians. White Cross was a relatively popular organization that
rapidly grew after it emerged in the United States in 1886. The White Cross society
advocated a single standard of morality and spiritualized the sexual relationship
between husbands and wives. The WCTU adopted White Cross as one of its
reforms and Frances Willard toured the nation speaking on its behalf. This article
explained the importance of the White Cross society to WCTU social purity work. It
emphasized the need to eliminate the double standard, a major driving force behind
the age-of-consent campaign. The age-of-consent campaign fit into a larger purity
program within the WCTU as well within the social purity programs of a broader
range of reformers. After the National Purity Congress in 1895, where this address
was given, White Cross membership increased dramatically.[16]
THE NEED OF WHITE CROSS WORK.
__________
BY REV. J.B. WELTY, SECRETARY OF THE WHITE CROSS
BRANCH OF THE PURITY DEPARTMENT OF THE NATIONAL
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
The object of the White Cross Branch of the Purity Department of
the National W.C.T.U. is clearly defined in article second of the
constitution, and is as follows:
"To elevate opinion respecting the nature and claims of morality.
"To maintain the law of purity as equally binding upon men and
women.
"To protect women from wrong and degradation.
"To preserve the purity of society.
http://womhist.binghamton.edu/aoc/doc20.htm (1 of 8) [6/5/2005 8:51:59 PM]