58 MARRIAGE AND HEREDITY 



Puritanism, and it resulted speedily in the establish- 

 ment of an equilibrium between the two systems 

 which has since been maintained. What we are 

 pleased to call the immorality of the Latin races of 

 the present day, in so far as it exists, is essentially a 

 protest against a noxious system of marriage which 

 it will inevitably modify. 



We have traced the influence of Christianity in 

 evolving not only the general European law of 

 monogamy, but the moral sentiments connected with 

 it. Christianity has certainly done much for the 

 elevation of women, and that in opposition, for the 

 most part, to the efforts of the Church. It has 

 effectually abolished open concubinage, established 

 monogamy upon the strictest basis, and released wives 

 from a life of seclusion and bondage. Without it a 

 reaction against the excesses of pagan society could 

 not have been long delayed, but the movement might 

 have taken a different and less beneficial direction. 

 If certain schools of philosophy began a reform, the 

 good work was immensely quickened by the fanati- 

 cism of the early Christians. The Church, it is true, 

 has reimposed upon women many of the civil dis- 

 abilities from w^hich, under the Roman dispensation, 

 they contrived to shake themselves free, but despite 



