Can women be trusted ?
Article from the Tamworth Herald – Saturday 7th November 1914
RECRUITS’ TEMPTATION – ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ON TOWN DANGERS: We have been asked to publish from a letter of the Archbishop of York to his diocese calling attention to three special war problems:-
(1) The troops quartered or billeted in our midst – whether of the Territorial forces or ‘the new army’. I earnestly hope that wherever these men are quartered, whether in large or small numbers, the members of the Church be foremost in providing for them rooms and opportunities both for rest and for healthy recreation. It is only upon men fit in body and strong in discipline that the country can rely, both for the defence of our land and for the reinforcement of our brave army abroad. Therefore it is that we must strengthen public opinion to regard ‘treating’ the men – in other words, exposing them to temptation, fatal to their character and efficiency – as simply spoiling our Forces and helping the enemy. As I have already said, and will often, if need be, say again, such foolish hospitality is, just as really as the bad business of spies, the work of traitors to the national cause. Is there much difference between giving away the secrets of the service and giving away the strength and discipline of the troops on which that service depends?
(2) WARNING TO GIRLS; I must allude to another aspect of this problem which cannot be ignored. It is obvious that the presence of these numbers of young men in uniform in our streets and roads must and does create some excitement among younger women and girls. It is just one way, and a very natural way, in which the stir of the war affects one special class of our people. But it has its risks. They may be, they often are, exaggerated; they cannot be ignored. I appeal earnestly and confidently to parents to keep, at this time very specially, a sensible and sympathetic control over their young daughters, especially in the evenings. But, after all, it is to the young girls themselves that the appeal must be made. I am sure that like the rest of us they really want to be of some use to their country. They can serve it best by keeping themselves quiet, modest, and self-controlled – the time is too solemn for silliness. By being loyal to the honour of their womanhood they will help our soldiers to be loyal to the honour of their manhood. And it is only to an honourable and self-disciplined manhood that the cause of the King and country can be safely entrusted.
TEMPTATION OF WIVES; There is a third problem of real – indeed urgent – importance. It is the lot of the wives of our sailors and soldiers. It is the concern of the whole nation that the homes of the men who are serving their country should be protected not only from want or distress, but equally from temptation. These temptations are real. Most of the wives, I am sure, know and resist them; but to some they are proving too strong. The public house is a tempting place of resort to women who are excited, concerned, often perplexed, about the war and the new conditions of life it has brought to them. I speak in sympathy rather than in judgement. But it is useless to shut our eyes to the fact that the war has led to a very serious increase in drinking among women. What is needed is friendship and sympathy of a kind which bring help and not temptation.