is nothing sacred in the word home. The very atmosphere
is poisoned by unloving words, and bitter reproaches. The
offspring of such are placed in a much more unfavorable
condition than were their parents. With such surroundings,
such examples, what could be expected of them if time
should continue? Mothers, the great cause of these physical,
mental and moral evils is secret vice which inflames the
passions, fevers the imagination, and leads to licentiousness.
This vice is laying waste the constitution, and preparing the
young for disease of almost every description. And shall we
permit our children to pursue a course of self-destruction?
Mothers, view your children from a religious stand point.
It gives you pain to see your children feeble in body and
mind; but does it not cause you still greater grief to see
them almost dead to spiritual things, so that they have but
little desire for goodness, beauty of character, and holy
purposes? Secret vice is the destroyer of high resolve, earnest
endeavor, and strength of will to form a good religious
character. All who have any true sense of what is embraced
in being a Christian, know that the followers of Christ are
under obligation as his disciples, to bring all their passions,
their physical powers and mental faculties, into perfect
subordination to his will. Those who are controlled by their
passions cannot be followers of Christ. They are too much
devoted to the se
