The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-06-10
POSTED >AI'LAiSI,


EDITOR ADVANCE: Not to the ex-
tent of infallibility, but to the extent Of
reasonable satisfaction to himself and
(as he Thinks to the satisfaction of ev-
cry reasonable man, the ministed has
got posted.
And from non-christian sources, chief
ly the Index" So please, Mr.. Editor,
abstain little from denouncing "chris-
tim prosecutions" Of d. NJ. Bennett.
The Liberal League at it's centre has
split into two parties-those who favor
the repeal Of all U. S. Postal laws a.
gainst the using of the mails for the
sending Of obscene matter, and those
who favor modification instead OF re-
peal. To the first idea is D. NJ. Bennett
Il ''anartyr!'
, Now, [ honestly believe that very
plain speaking to children and others
on ''delicate physiological Matters" is
consistent with the highest purity and
virtue, ana that The times when the vi.
rious books of the Bible originated were
superior to our own time in the matter
Of physical purity. So what are called
indicate passages in the Bible We're
neither indicate nor impure when orig
inally used; and that they are impure
ill our age is altogether the fault Of our
age and not at all the fault of the Bible.
But think the purpose to be impure
or to suggest impurity, appears in the
only composition from Mr.. Bennett
which | ever saw, namely an article
purporting to be Sunday School exer-
else before class Of young ladies. But
whether that purpose was in Mr.. Ben
nett's mind. or whether the article be
impure IN itself, or not, is unessential
to the point. It is impure to our oge as
are some passages Of the Bible, and cam
not but tend to increase impurity in
the community where it circulates.
Hence the community must defend it.
self, and neither common law nor COM
mon sense can regard Mr.. Bennett's
naotires but must punish his acts.
The point at which to commence the
reform which shall deprive impurity of
the defence which the prudish and Grim
NAL reticence Of our times have built
for it, is not i'll the public Journal, but
is in the confidential and sacred inter-
course of the parent with Ills child or
the teacher with his pupil. Let parents
% firnna0nfN f,1c <1c
when their children inquire concerning
the origin of physical life-Let them in
form their growing boys and girls con-
corning the uses and abuses Of the re-
productive organs, and after genera
ton thus trained has grown up, the
plain language of the Bible and perhaps
for am not posted on this point. the
Language Of Mr.. BE nnett, can be used
with all publicity and not be 4 means Of
increasing impurity. Surely all really
interested i'll promoting purity have
sufficient vocation for the present in
we'll directed confidential efforts to this
end with their OWN children, or with
other young people, while their more
public efforts can be made in language
to whose form no one need take excep-
ton. Let us all work together in this
direction. AS to Comstock, it seems
clear that while he keeps standing no.
tice to the effect that any one calling
at lis Office in New York, will receive
assurance and proof that his work is
solely against impurity, and is not in
any possible sense sectarlan, the epl,i-
thets lately hurled at him in the AZ.
VANCE, are altogether undeserved and
unjust.
4 MINISTER.