34 MR. stone's ADDRESS, 



hear men say, as I frequently do, that they should be glad to 

 read, but cannot find time — when I hear mothers speak with 

 deep feeling of maternal responsibilities, and mourn that they 

 are debared, by the stern demands of toil, the aids of deliber- 

 ate reading and calm thinking, in discharging the noblest and 

 holiest duties of life, my heart is pained, and I cannot escape 

 the conviction that something wrong is mingled with the pres- 

 ent order of things. And when I see both sexes deeply and 

 prematurely marked with the lines of excessive care, debasing 

 their better natures with the grossness of earth — when, in all 

 parts of our glorious Commonwealth, I see men, and women 

 too, neglecting the Sabbath — absenting themselves from the 

 House of Worship — because, as they say^ they are prostrated 

 by the toils of the week, my soul is grieved beyond expression. 

 I tremble in view of the consequences they are accumulating 

 to themselves, the injurious influence of their example on 

 their offspring, and the disease they are engendering in the 

 morals of the community. 



The causes of this condition of ihings have been variously 

 assigned. The evil is attributed to avarice — an excessive haste 

 to be rich — a finical love of show — a passion for dress that or- 

 dinary labor cannot support — extravagant indulgence of artifi- 

 cial wants — envious emulation of the rich — ignoble competition 

 in business — making wealth the only standard of worth — and 

 the selfishness that either, or all of thesocauses combined, have 

 nurtured in the human breast. But from whatever source the 

 evil has sprung, the necessity of its reform is obvious. The 

 best interests of our community demand it. 



I am aware that it is often easier to point out an evil, than it 

 is to suggest an effectual remedy. Fortunately, however, a 

 specific is at hand — not, indeed, in the re-organization of Soci- 

 ety, but in the universal application of Christian principles to 

 society as it now exists. 1 perceive no occasion for finding 

 fault with the social institutions of which God is the founder, 

 though man may be justly censured for his abuse of them. — 

 Nor has necessity arisen for their destruction, that the evils 

 which sin and ignorance have forced into them, may be reach- 

 ed. If the temple is defiled, let it be purified, not razed to the 



