The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-10-30
By Theodore Schroeder, In the Arena

Like every Otner Social propien,
prostitution may be scanned from two
conflicting view points, namely: the
religious and the secular Tor scienti-
fc). Unfortunately very few people
have any clear idea as to what Is the
essential difference between these two
attitudes of mind, and to most per-
sons 1t has never occurred to ask II
there might be a difference in the re-
sultant moral code. Briefly, to state
this difference, as l see 1t, and to sug-
gest some Of its results in attempting
a solution of the problem OF prostitu-
ton is the motive for this essay.
In the most generally accepted
Christian aspect, the problem of pros.
titution Is but fraction OF the larg-
er problems Of religious activity, and
resolves itself into a subdivision OF
theology. According to this view all
prostitution, like all other sexuality
without ceremonial sanctification, is
Judged by "a priori," emot dnal me-
thods to be per Sc" immoral because
il Is believed to be prohibited by God.
In the scientific aspect the mora ity of
the conduct Is judged only by its di'
rect effect on others. Hence 1t fol-
lows that no isolated act OF prostitu-
ton can be judged as per sc immoral,
and the varying consequence OF null
titude Of such acts require divers
ity Of moral judgments, according to
their respective ascertained and ma.
terial effects and each relative to its
alternative possibility.
Judged by religious standards of
morals the evils of prostitution are
usually measured by the violence 1t
does to religious feelings, and the
consequent intensity Of the emotions
of aversion, which Unfortunately in
dict all (even indirecD participants
without any pretense at balancing the
relative social utility and inutility OF
segregated acts, or of the sustem. In
the antithetical scientific aspect the
emotional aversion and moral senti-
mentalizing count for nothing, and
the moral estimate of the act Is deter
mined by its direct and ascertained
consequence upon persons who are
immature, deceived, unintentional, or
n; 20
These differences Of view point lead
unavo daily to very different concep-
tions as to what constitutes the es-
sence of the problem presented by the
phenomena of prostitution. In the re-
ligious aspect the essence of the evil
lies in the disobedience OF accepted
divine command" and the loss OF
soul salvation. The problem is best
being studied from the religionist
view point, by inquiry as TO how most
effectively to secure obedience to the
illogical morality" and to attain
soul salvation for the devotees of
prostitution.
In the scientific aspect the essence
of the evil lies in actual material evil
tphysiologlcaD consequences and the
problem is one of discovering and re-
or sociaD causes, and tracing the ply.
Biological and hereditary, evil, social
consequences. In this aspect all re
ligious, or a priori, moral codes the
oogies, and soul interests are disre-
garded. The sociologist concerns him.
self almost wholly with hygienic, pro
phylsctic and educational methods for
securing betterment, through an en-
lightened self interest, and improving
economic conditions and the victims
industrial efficiency. The religionist,
from the necessities imposed by his
moral code, for improved conditions
relies chiefly upon the brutalities Of
moralization by force, or its slternat.
i've OF hypocritical pretense OF uncon.
sciousness. With religious morality
secular state can have nothing to do
without destroying its secular char
acter. The socioogist, as an individ.
ual may sometimes find religion h
helpful short cut to the conduct he
wishes to impose II he can bring him.
self TO making the appeal TO supersti.
tious fears as a coercive force, where
he lacks the capacity, OF patience, re,
ouisite to succeed by scientific meth.
cd, But every time that he does this
he retards the achievement OF that III.
innate ethical IDEAL in which none will
need to be coerced because all will
have so broad and perfect a concep
ton of human interdependence. as
to find their own highest and noblest
self interest to be served by ihtelli.
gently insisting upon the maintenance
OF those conditions which will insure