The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-10

"free love- wrongs in the clergy, but
all must agree that they are not living
out the principles of the seventy times
seven" (490 command when they deal
with the sorrowing (?) offenders. If to
"offend in one point" and not carry out
this 400 times forgiving, is to be ''guilty of
all, !" where do those who decide upon and
enforce church laws stand? The Sound
ing brass and tinkling cymbap' people
do some good, but do they not forget
that such organizations as churches have
it in their power to expel the doers and
preachers of "free love'i doctrines, while
it is not in our power to follow their ex-
ample?
If the clergy fail to keep up senti-
ment that prevents people from the wor-
ship Of money, it is TO be presumed that
some weak people morally will be in
flueneed by the pernicious doctrines of
those who make a show of money,
mixed with some good principle.
Whoever fears to attack such persons in
an open field clearly shows that he feels
incompetent to cope with them, or is not
perfectly sure of the stability of his own
position. Let all wrongs and errors be
brought to light, and then the side of
truth, aud pure and noble lives, may be
made to exhibit such wide contrast
that great good will result. The human
mind is so formed that contrasts are al
most a necessity in teaching good and
preventing evil. But it is neither fair
nor Christianlike to wholesale the NOR
ale Of some Of the recent recrusits of
Woman Suffrage with those of us who
have been for many long years working
in cause that our labors have placed
before the people in light that is highly
commendable.
/ am personally responsible for my
own acts and preachings, but as ! am
not responsible for those of others, ]
protest against a clergyman, or any one
else, making a wholesale sweep in his
charges against the women who are now
prominent i'm the suffrage cause. wish
every one who makes a profession of re.
ligion were possessed of the same, and
wish as fervently that all who advocat,
the Woman Suffrage cause were right OF
all moral questions, and particularly oI
the subject Of marriage. / wish all be
lieved that a marriage should be for life
unless uncomfortable, and then that Law
and order should be observed in separat
ing. But as there are those who advo
cate the doctrine of "free loven in it
vile acceptation, those of us who do no
advocate it ought not to be slandered b,
clergymen who have never called upol
us to ascertain whether they wer
speaking advisedly or otherwise, an,
have never read our writings or Iistene,
to our speeches upon subjects that the,
profess to be informed upon.
But ! am not speaking for mysel
alone, for there are many grand an,
noble women in the front ranks of on
cause who would sacrifice life rathe
than surrender their high moral princi
pies; and if those who are unfortunateI,
without such moral integrity are abb
and desire TO work in the cause of WON
ans political equality, have they not a
much right to do so as have men to worl
in any cause when they are no bette
morally?
Every one can reach their own elias
far better than those whose ideas oil
other subjects are not at all in common
To excuse or apologize for mora
wrongs is one thing, while to tolerat
and make the best of what cannot b
cured is quite another thing.