The New York herald., 1876-01-24
THE LUNATICs OF FASHION.
LECTURE BY PROFESSOR BRITTAN-THE GREAT
CRIME oP OUR CIVILIZATION.

LECTURE BY PROFESSOR BRITTAN-THE GREAT
CRIME oP OUR CIVILIZATION.
Professor s. b. Britain lectured last evening at Re-
publican Hail. in Thirty third street. tho "Lunatica
OF Fashion," giving expression toAsom startling
truths, in language not TO be misunderstood In the
course OF erpose OF tho evils OF fashionable society
the speaker said
We may find mitigation OF q great crime
against nature In the ignorance of the thoughtess
offenders But the germs OF human nature are
daily blasted in the exercise OF deliberate purpose.
Fpcide has become the great crime OF civilized So
cety In this respect the most polished nations are
the most corrupt In thus war OF extermiDaton
against nature excel the rudest barbarans and put
savage tribes TO shame Such vital and nagrant
violation OF tho laws OF life must be followed
by the most terrible consequences The natural
world groans beneath the weight OF this In
quity. The unalterabe judgments OF God, expressed
and emphasized In the operations OF HIS government
follow offenders or all such II may be said in the
strong language Of Scripture, Ther damnation sluTn
bereth not" The inevitable results OF this immeasur
able crime are in brief the physical intellectual and
moral degeneracy Of the race The personal evils arc
destruction OF health tho dcadenng Of moral sen
sibty loss OF self respect and perhaps the DESC
iaton Of solitary, frendess and comfortess old age.
To the the consequences OF the gravest pos
sbe character The suspension OF Us recuperatve and
reproductive powers lowering OF the standard OF popu-
lar thought public Justice and national integry-in
short the rapid declenson OF all the physical and
moral forces which the true life, the permanent ex
stence and the lasting glory Of people are made to
depend
Often accOmpCo8 Thus millions are swept away, all
unnotced save by Him who hcods the sparrOws when
they fail These blasted fruits from the tree or
nfel Who shall number themi Our proud nationality
Is IN its youth our civilization Is not yet ripe and
who shall witness It's maturItyf Ahsl il is rotten
such gigantic evils flourish In spite OF the laws
and under the shadow Of the Church. Such arc the
wrongs that make OF our decent seeming deceptive
falsehood Thus label religious Institutions
and stamp our lives gilded trhes and hollow shams
BY such base conduct and this low conception or tho
sacredness of life and its responsibilities wo
Make the stately temple Of the soul
A dungeon Of impure depravities
Men may be rough; men may bo cruel; men may be
criminal and utterly blast the prospects OF tho
race But who Is shocked TO know that gentle ma
lures can DO so depravcdY Ministers OF mercy, veil
their faces and weep In view OF such sefabasement.
Womanhood is deeecratcd, humanity Is outraged aud
mortal pangs smite the deepest springs OF being LIS
ten all who are subject 70 this Indictment and re-
member II is by your ordination that grim death Is
made warden at iife's portal Fair hands hold and
guide tho fatal shan The facts staggor belief;
doubt before the witnesses II Il possible we would
dispute the demonstration. II this Is not insanity,
where shall 10 look for II, and who will show
amplef Oh why should beings radiant as tho morn
ing bar the doors OF life against the waiting genera
uonsY why mady quench the life that you impart7
Alas for white shrlnes OF the Holy Spirit they
are donled they have become whitcd scpulchres foI
tho forms Of life and the germs OF Immortality.