The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-13
COL. INGERSOLL LEC1URED.
Appeared Before the Congregation OF
the Militant Church.
mo DARKNESS But IGNORANCE.
Advocated Homes Exempt From All Tax.
alton - Marriage a Contract and
Women Should Have Divorcas.

Chicago. April l2.-Colonel Robert G..
Ingcrsoll spoke before the Militant church
congregation today In response to an in
vitation extended by the pastor, Rev.
John Rusk. In his letter of invita- ton
Rev. Mr.. Rusk said: "The Militant church,
which is organized for the purpose of
lettering the condition of mankind, re-
gardcss of creed or lack of IT, desires to
entend to YOU an invitation to preach for
us some sunday morning in the near fu-
ture on the subject of your views as to
what the Christian church should do and
how"
In accepting the invitation, MIR niger
soil said; Il was much pleased at the
spirit of Intellectual hospitality of your
letter and what | say. If anything, 10
your people win be in the same spirit OF
Kindness and candor'
Colonel lngersoll's address was given in
Hooeys theatre
ON the stage were 400 or more represent
tativc citizens
As Colonel Ingersoll stepped to the ros-
trum he was welcomed with applause that
tasted Tor over u minute. With the sug
sestion that while his hearers and him
ser might be travelling different roads
theN were all trying to add TO human
JOY and happiness. he took as his text
the quotation from Shakespeare. whom he
characterized as the greatest of human
beings There is no darkness hat ignor-
ahce, ana for two hours he spoke upon
the necessity OF arbitration as IA suhsti-
lute Tor war; the need for new methods
m the treatment of criminals. the desira-
bihty of the occupancy Of the prairies of
the West for homes as "A panacea for
the tenement system The question of III
Vnrcc the relations Of capital and labor
and the need OF reform In the education of
children.
In speaking of homes. the orator said;
The home is the unit Of the nations Tn,
lnore homes the broader the Foundation
OF the Nation and the more secure. Every
thlng That is possible should he done TO
Keep thus from being Nation of tenants
Ihe men who cultivate the earth should
own 1t. Something has already been done
in our country in that direction and
probably in every State ihcr. Is a home
stead exemption. This exemption has
thus far done no harm to the creditor
class. When we imprisoned people for
debt debts were is insecure, TO say the
lcnst as now. by the homestead laws a
home of n certain value or Of certain
extent is exempt from forced ley or sale
and these laws have done great good
Undoubtedly they have trebeied the homes
OF the Nation.
wish to go step further want. IL
possible, to get the people ont of the
tnements. out of the CUTTERS of ,iegra-
dations. to homes where there can be
privacy, where these people can feel that
theS are in partnership with nature; that
they have an interest in good govern
ment. With the means We now have
OF transportation, there is no necessity
for poor people being hudllcd in fostering
masses in the vile, filthy ana loathsome
parts of the cities. where poverty breeds
rags and rags breed diseases. ] would
eNem-st homestead of a reasonable
value say of the value of 5000 or $4,000
not only from sale under execution, but
from gale of taxes of every description.
These homes should be absolutely EXEMPT
ney should belong TO the family, so
roof above her head was hers: that her
hous" WAS her castle aud that in Its pos
session sho could not be disturbed even
Nothing is mors important to America
than that the babes of America should
be born around the fireside Of homes.
Mr.. lngersoil said: After all. marriage
Is contract and the parties to the con-
tract are bound 10 keep its provisions
and nether should he released from such
contract. unless in some way the inter-
ests of society are involved. / would have
the law so that any husband could OH
tain n divorce when the wife had per-
sistently and ilagrantly violated the con-
tract, such divorce TO he granted on equit-
able terms. would give the Wife
divorce If she requested H. If she wanted
It. And | would do this not only for
her sake. but for the sake Of the com
munity, " the Nation
All children should be children - love
All that are born should he sincerely
welcomed. The children Of mothers who
dislike or hate or loathe the fathers will
min the world with insanity and crime.
l max. u ulllrVcnce between tue grant
ing of n divorce 10 n man and n woman
for this reason: A woman dowrrs her
husband with her youth and beauty He
should not he allowed to desert her be
cause she has grown wrInklcd aud old
Her capital Is gone. her prospects In life
lesscned. while on tho contrary, he may
be far better able TO succeed than when
he married h r. As a rule. the man can
take care of himself, and as rule, the
woman needs help. So would not allow
him 10 cast her oc unless she had fragrant
~ violated the contract. But for the sake
Of the community and especially for the
sake of the babes. would give her
divorce for the asking
There VIII never DO n generation of
great men until there has been u genera
ton of free wcmen--of free mothers Tho
tculerest word IN our LANGUAGE is ma
tornitv, In that word is the divine ming
ling Of ecstacv and agony; of love and
sclf-sacriicc- The word is low
when thu great orator concluded his
sermon. the applaud was loud and long
continued. many ~ those in tho foyer
wnyfur fhpir hun Ak gr,hfpfg