The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-03-18
ANIHON CCMSTOCK'S WORK
A BAPTIST DOCTOR OF DIVINITY
PROTESTS AGAINST ITIN

BAPTIST DOCTOR OF DIVINITY
PROTESTS AGAINST ITIN
STRONG TERMS
TO the Elitor OF The N. Y. Tribune.
SIR: AS a citizen, a taxpayer and a
clergyman, having numerous perish,
l wish to protest against the work of
Anthony Comstock and his associ-
ates. I protest against his lottery
raids, because they are heartless
and prosecuting. Clerks and buyers
are locked up under oppressive laws,
enacted because of a popular prejudice.
l hold that the best cure for lottery
gambling IS to let buyers sicken of the
business just as outsiders do of stock
buying, by reaping a crop of disap-
polntment. AT any rate do not tell us
that the United States mails are to be
invaded by spies. There is reitber
morality nor honesty in seiZing money
in lottery offices. 10 give it to the poor
savors OF the methods Of o]d-time En-
glish footpads who robbed from the
rich and gained safety by substituting
the poor.
Iprotest again t the whole system Of
spies and the lying thereby enacted.
1t is disgrace to try to commit tho
Church to these methods. If it w a
crime to appeal to the cupidity of the
wicked and cheat them under promise
OF gain i'll investing in lotteries, ETC., is
IL not equally crime to appeal to the
cupidity Of the wicked by pretending to
be i bona lide buyer of ticket only to
lead the seller to ruin? l protest
against the pretentious and futile raids
OF disreputable houses which only dis
turb the public morality 10y lifting the
n r,to ffor
cent have seen. Well might a fallen
woman say, "They raid US or they tell
us to leave our business. If we prom
Use to reform, Christians pray over us,
sing to us; out of meeting, shun us.
We get only hymns, Sights and hunger.
Our associates in sin and death are our
only true friends. TO leave our pres
ent life is drudgery or hunger. There
is no way for fallen woman to get ND
and back"
why is not some method devised to
stop the fall beforehand, and to recov-
er the weak girl by Offering her a home
and work such as she could do, such as
she did before the fall? She tries to re-
form, and nine cases ont of ten she is
asked to go to heavy domestic service
to compete with the brawny Irish en-
lgrant.
l protest against the law and the pro-
ceedings under them of Anthony Com
stock, wherein he attempts to regulate
and prohibit the sale of certain things
hitherto commended by prudent physi-
clans us harmeless and yet invaluable
to sickly and Overburdened mothers.
| am aware of the fact that some Of
those who have favored these prolnbi-
tons, buy and use what they denounce.
Common sense is a jewel, and there
ought to be laws, if we are going to in
Vade the privacy of homes, to discour-
age the bringing into existence of
weaklings; also to guard the mothers
from burdens that prevent them from
caring for the children they haye.
Finally. I protest against the OBJ
scene, so-called, ''exhib,tions' given
by the said Comstock. Uundredb of
clergymen, deacOns and other men
have been invited to see the tools, pic
lures and such things that this man
has forcibly taken from the owners.
Not only have these degrading things
been frequently shown to large gather
ing of men, but scores have been invit-
Ell to private views. These shows
nave been given frequently for years.
me ''clect" behold them! The pretence
IS that this will awaken public opinion
S ;31 them. Very well. Let us
hold to the line: If gathering men to
look at them will make them hate them
let us have them on sale for man ev-
ervwhere. I deem the whole thing i'm |
pertinent folly; as remedy. shabby;
in the light of justice, dishonesty and
fraud; in the line of government. the
setting up of a dangerous precedent
and the establishing Of PRINCIPLES that
undermine our liberty and put NJ back
toward despotism.
New YORK, Feb. IL. 1880.
A New YORK PAS TOR.