Startling and Significant
By J. O. C.
IN a lecture recently delivered before the Los Angeles (California) Evening City Club, Mr. Hugh C. Gibson is reported to have said that in Los Angeles County alone, 800 girls and more than 1,500 boys are on probation under the supervision of probation officers. Mr. Gibson added to this the statement that at the state school of Ione, one out of five of the more than 500 boys he talked to are from Los Angeles County. The speaker ventured to say that it was not the lack of money or of nice homes that drove these boys and girls to their present condition, but a lack of parent love, together with the study of newspaper pictures of desperadoes, in connection with accounts of their vile but daring adventures. This lack of natural affection, and disregard for parental connection, together with an overweening desire to follow after excitement, are indeed a sad commentary on the present state of society. Yet probably not one of those who listened to Mr. Gibson's talk saw any evidence of Scripture fulfilment in his delineation. Read 2 Tim. 3:2, 3. Inasmuch as the word of God sets forth so clearly this state of things as existing in the days just preceding the coming of Christ and the close of the world's history, why will not men and women relinquish, for a brief space, the mad chase after worldly pleasure, and give a little time to the study of home betterment and a preparation for future bliss? J. O. C.