Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 1953 THE NEWBERRY SUN PAGE THREE r -1 \ * An Article By Rev. C. O. Lamoreux Who is a juvenile delinquent? The Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act gives this definition: . . an offender against federal law who has not reached his eighteenth birthday.” Unfortunately, a delinquent does not come to the attention of the public until after he becomes an “offender against the law.” Almost two thousand years ago, during the trial of Caius Silanus by the Roman senate, it was declared, “Laws punish crimes com mitted; but how much more merciful it would be .... to provide against their commission.” It is this provision “against their commission” that interests us. How can we prevent juvenile delinquency? * It would be well to keep in mind the tremendously complex nature of such a study. Mr. Virgil W. Peterson, Operating Director, Chicago Crime Commission, says in this connection, “Criminal human behavior is not an isolated problem of crime. It is a problem which embraces sociology, eco nomics, politics, cultural backgrounds, law enforcement, psychology, psychiatry, penology, biology, physiclogy, and other branches of com parable sciences.” whether adult or juvenile, regard religion lightly. They agree that re ligion, properly applied, can be a great force in the prevention of de linquency. The question now arises, “How may it be applied?” There is a three-fold responsibility here, with three agencies working in close harmony to make this application. They are the church, the home, and the school. The task of the church is to make religion vital. To demonstrate that it is practical, that it works. No “Pie in the Sky” in the “Sweet By and By” appeals to the young. But a vigorous, vital, life-changing ministery —which is the essence of true religion—will appeal to the most indifferent. Parents have a very important responsibility in the prevention of delin quency. The sad fact is that in many cases of juvenile delinquency the parents are to blame. They show no interest in their children, allow them to make their own choices without supervision or guidance, give them no understanding or any real love. Mr. Donald C. Stewart, U.S. Probation Officer, Southern District of New York City, describes the complex nature of the delinquency problem this way: “Many factors enter into juvenile delinquency: lack of parental sup ervision, parental disinterest, poverty and want, criminal associates, poor teachers and inadequate educational facilities, exposure to dangerous books, movies, and radio programs (and shall we not add television pro grams?)—the list could become almost endless.” * • ■. ■ ' To deal with such a complex problehi comprehensively, more space would be needed than is provided in this one brief article. Therefore, at the risk of seeming guilty of limited, or inadequate, or biased thinking, this article will confine itself to only one aspect of the answer, keeping always in mind that “there is no single answer, no magic solution, no mystic anodyne.” In every article reviewed the writers, all of them law-enforcement of ficers, sooner or later came to the matter of th moral and religious atti tudes of the delinquents, and agreed that here lies a very significant aspect in finding the solution to the problem. The relaxing in the ad herence to moral principles, and the disregard for the Ten Command ments was suggested as the leading cause of delinquency. It is generally conceeded that those who appear in the criminal courts as delinquents, Parents must be aware of the religious needs of their children. It is important that they guide their children in their religious life, helping them in their decisions, encouraging them to love and respect religion. And it is equally important that they set a wholesome example. Parents who give only lip service to religion cannot expect their children to live up to its precepts. It has been said, “Give a boy who steals apples an education, and he will steal a railroad.” To KNOW what is good is not enough. One must also FEEL what is good. That is conscience. The schools must not be satis fied in merely training the intellect. To perfect character, full coopera tion with the church and the home is vital. In fact, these three must be mutually cooperative. As its particular contribution towards the prevention of juvenile delin quency, the school must provide adequate facilities, and teachers of high moral and spiritual ideals, who are interested in leading children not only to KNOW what is good, but to FEEL what is good, and therefore act ac cordingly. As previously pointed out, these are not the only factors involved in seeking a solution to juvenile delinquency, but they are vital. When taken into consideration, and seriously acted upon, a great stride will have been taken in finding the prevention of juvenile delinquency. t This Important Message Sponsored by the Following: f » . Smith Heating & Sheet Metal Works 2522 E. Main St. Smith’s Drug Store 1212 Main Street / • T and C Cleaners 1508 Nance Street Three Point Grocery On Cut Off Road Price Refrigeration Service 1500 Drayton Street Carter’s Flowers and Gifts 1109 Caldwell Street Chapman Lumber Company Greenville Highway Clark Wrecking Company 702 Glenn Street Coble Dairy Products Co. 2100 Nance Street Dowd’s Place Pomaria Road John R. Frazier 1215V2 Friend Street Boland’s Service Station Pomaria Willingham Bros. Garage On Cut Off Highway Willie’s Drive-In Restaurant On Cut Off Road C. C. Wallace & Son Greenville Highway Wayside Market On Cut Off Highway V • k.- : A Friend 1002 Friend Street Wick’s Auto Sales E Main Street West Service Station rfdno.3 e. f. 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