A CHAPTER FOR MARRIED PEOPLE 539 



"I will not further enlarge upon these instrumen- 

 talities. Sufficient has been said to convince any one 

 that to trifle with the grand functions of our organ- 

 ism, to attempt to deceive and thwart nature in her 

 highly ordained prerogatives, no matter how simple 

 seem to be the means employed, is to incur a heavy 

 responsibility and run a fearful risk. It matters little 

 whether a railroad train is thrown from the track by 

 a frozen drop of rain or a huge boulder lying in the 

 way; the result is the same, the injuries as great. 

 Moral degradation, physical disability, premature ex- 

 haustion and decrepitude, are the result of these phys- 

 ical frauds, and force upon our conviction the adage, 

 which the history of every day confirms, that 'honesty 

 is the best policy.' " 



"Male Continence."— A peculiar method, mis- 

 named ''male continence" was practiced by the mem- 

 bers of the Oneida Community, and has been recom- 

 mended by some writers as physiological and proper. 

 The very opposite is true. This abominable practice 

 can be considered as nothing better than double mas- 

 turbation. Its terrible results do not differ much from 

 those of solitary vice. 



Shaker Views.— The Shakers do not, as many sup- 

 pose, believe wholly in celibacy. They believe in mar- 

 riage and reproduction regulated by the natural law, 

 and would limit population, but not by interfering 

 with nature; rather, by following nature's indications 

 to the very letter. They believe "that no animals 

 should use their reproductive powers and organs for 

 any other than the simple purpose of procreation." 

 Recognizing the fact that this is the law among lower 

 animals, they insist upon applying it to man. Thus 

 they find no necessity for the employment of those 



