Year: 1859

Letter from DR.. .Hatch--spsrituasism Socially


Considered.


TO THE EDITOR THE HERALD.


Ihave entered the champion against toe
n,quities which universal disordsry spiritual
sm and which solemny believe 70 be .he greaesi
enemy of God, morals and religion rhas ever found
resting place earththe most seduc.ive, hence mos,
dangerous form Of sensualsGl which ever cursed
ton age or people. cannot write tho whole truth with
lay ing myself liable 70 prosecution for publishing ob
articles and aside from This objection, could aot
SO Offend public taste therefore, the reader only
expect some of the mder forms OF The henous realities
which here prevail. They establish themselves behind
the rampant of what they technically the "sover
eighty of the individual and hod themselves respons
bic neither society God Thus fortified their lheo
logy they make free TO worship the god within them
whatever may be- On marriage the spiri.ualiss
peculiarly eloquent and emphatic strikes a. the foun
daon OF all well regulated society. They divided
into several clnsses upon this subject.


LIST. Those who believe in the oneness OF marriage
that there somewhere in Gods universe true c5nju
gal partner for each individual with they 70
live forever. That with this partner oven noiwhs,and
ing all the imperfectons OF huulsn nature, there woild
be unaoyed bliss II any dlscord any lack Of their
highest idea Of love creeps into the domestic relation,
becomes evident that they truly married. an
living in aduerous relations with another individuals
partner Upon this basis 1t becomes expedent that this
relation should be absoved aud new one formed with



guide has had the wisdom to designate Decord
again creeps in, and they soon conclude that both
they and the spirits have made another mistake and not
in the discouraged they try again. and ustil
their moral and social condition becomes offensive 10
large number who believe this theory in consequence
Of their domestic condition social relations, do not
carry into practice, but give their hearty approval 70
all who do This doctrine is fully advocated both by spi
ritual lecturers and papers The Spiritual Age says


The truth H. that the existing marriage institution or at least
The s1s are rs esrfy and
alienation, desertion and crime are impossible


In this view Of the subject all who in any way prove
indel to1her marriage perfectly ustfable,
the wroug itself becomes positive evidence that the par
ties are "ruy married." and consequently under
obligation to each other In other words, this pho
sopy which proves to their minds that social corruption
and conjugal nhdey no wrong but fidelity to their
higher or interior nature.


Again quote from communication to the Spiritual
Telegraph, bearing date January l., 1885, This is in
ference to lecture delivered by Miss Dods to the sp
ritualists in Clinton Hall Brooklyn:-


She argued that the law regarding marriage and d
yorce Oppressive and wrong should repealed and
aS s s %
pointed officer Of The and be allowed order for
s $ ss s
nsasS which
in admitting the ingenuity soundness and elcquence Of the
ought to be published


II appears by the writer's statement that these
sentiments, after being duly discussed approved by
the audience ask who fail to see that il is an en-
tire and perfect abrogaon Of the marriage institution
thus leaving individuals TO change partners every day
the pleasures Of their ascvous desires shall requreY
am not unjust iD quoting their own language, and
firmly believe that the above quoted paragraphs will find


hearty response from large majority Of the spiritual
have given their individual sanction 10 this condition Of
things. Thus confirm what stated in my previous let
ter that this class sis popularzng those social conditions
which every good citizen must most deeply deplore."


The marriage institution lays at the foundation of all
well regulated society and unquesionably is the most
sacred holy and divine relation which exists among NOR
tails angels. 1t should be entered into with fun
poSog he aoveS n nar rs
beauty and harmony. What the parties not each
other becomes their duty in virtue Of their rel..ou
e Try 70 aeySUp S. as Sa1' sha the happn
the domestic relation has depended upon the esmaton
sacredness IL which this Institution WAS helt Ihe
ratio. Of, domrsrc tisc1d and = unhlepmss,s -
l therefore question whether any high minded
and discreet person desire any greater enency in
laws regulating marriage in this country than
exists. Let Indiana, which this respect must ever
stand as reproach nation receive all the prolpae
and renegade men and women VINO desire 10 absove their
nuptia rela ons for their own wrongs or offences but let
New York maintain her dignity.


I'd There another class Of spritualsts who believe
that every faculty of the human mind, being implanted
by Deity is capable OF direct inspiration from Him. tnerc
fore that every inherent desire shoad be grafed in the
way of its promptngs. This TO them, rendering obe-
dence 10 the promptngs Of the Divinity within them and
tnus becomes religious duty. They aver that the ult
mate OF love Is promscuous and is curted only by an
arbitrary and unwhoesoiae regulation of society. To
accept their freedom, to them becomes moral oblga-
ton. Monygamic marriage is thus made an outrage
against the promptngs aud Inspirations of the god within
them-that the relation OF the sexes is not SO much a
of delicacy fstidous and perverted society
would make appear. The most OF this class claim to act
upon the principle Of policy, aud refrain from publicly
promu eating their sentiments and practices rs they be-
eve that the world not yet sufficiently advanced to re-
ceve their doctrines Some that all true love seeks
the happiness Of the loved, AMI is unsehsh in its
naiure therefore, if the husband wife can find plea
in the OF another, becomes their pleasure
to have them do. There those who prominent
active the PRONUNCIATION Of the spiritual philosophy
who most fully endorse this sentiment. II may have one
thing to commend it, vzt destroys all basis Of jealousy
This believe true virtue is fidelity TO their desires
One of them writing TO the Spiritual Taph in reference
10 unmarried woman who had just become mother
uses the following language


is reserved this day under the inspiration of the


the dignity Of her womanhood and declare of her
me- though stand all alone penniless fiendless homeless
hoest Of all of Heavens g,s-he rish. Of
maiernyn the way which t sa me sssHeh Ish ana
realization of that Pares Of all aspirations inherent
and under such circumstances as to seem fit and best


Here have the theory and practice combined which
the editor of that paper most ably controver But be-


eve Is the only spiritual paper in America which would
do So The same Writer above quoted further adds


Our spirit friends all purely natural passions have
ample work themselves out in their true order The
enonaism be dsregarded; leg asm Il fe
ramped under foot and high and holy freedom
their places.


Can any one ask for broader basis OF prostitution than
is embodied this sentiment? What would be the con
dition of society we're all developed up down
ward) to the same standardP' The marriage inst.
tuition is here held in open contempt, and 'shoud
be tramped under foot and that, too, by
the dictaton of spirits. Maidens recommended
to usurp their rights and ask for lascivious indulgence
and when the sacrifice of their virue-the crownng ex
celence of woman, which sits like upon her
brow all adorned with the diamonds OF purity-sbaI
cause her bring forth the fruits of her M she then
unbushingly to say is my God given rght to re- beget
myself when, and by whom and under such
as to me ht and bestn Witt my feeble perception
and 'undeveoped condition " must confess that 10 me-
no other social sacrege equals this Nevertheless there
are men in this city, who possess nigh social positions in
virtue their wealth and intelligence, who SO na-
uated with this doctrine that they freely their own
daughters become the msresses of men they aver that
marriage should not precede but follow that intimate
socation which belongs TO husband and wife, that after
they have lived together sufficiently long ASCERTAIN
whether each fully respond to all the desires of the
other is then the proper time 10 decide marriage The
only real difference between this and the other class of
spiuaiss is the time Of MARRIAGE for the others be-
eve thai the nupa relation should be absoved as soon
as the parties find that they not fully adapted to each
other The experiment of adaptation beforehand has the


tle nd of Vv;,h