AMAND ROUTH, M.D., F.R.C.P., ON MOTHERHOOD. 



71 



Discussion. 



Dr. Mary D. Scharlieb, C.B.E., said : Unfortunately the parents 

 of the present day too frequently fail to realize that an important 

 part of their duty towards their children is to give them enlighten- 

 ment as to the facts of life so far as they are able to understand 

 them. It is impossible to assign any age limit, for some children 

 are more developed mentally and morally at 7 or 8 years of age 

 than others are at 12 or 14. 



The great rule is to answer the children's questions simply, 

 truthfully, and in a reverent manner. It is unfair to allow children 

 to meet the troubles and temptations of life unwarned, and it is 

 unfair to expect children and yoimg people to keep their bodies in 



temperance, soberness, and chastity " if they have never been 

 taught the necessary care of the body, and if its beauty, value 

 and dignity has not been pointed out to them. 



Dr. ScHOFiELD then proposed a vote of thanks to the learned 

 Lecturer, whose paper was most admirable, and if he added a few 

 remarks it would be mainly to emphasize some important points 

 that might be forgotten, but which should be ever remembered. 



On page 56^ we read, " Motherhood without marriage, and marriage 

 associated with the prevention of motherhood, are really mere 

 sexual unions which are not only irregular but are ethically, socially, 

 and morally wrong." This is a pronouncement from a high authority 

 of the utmost weight, and worthy of all attention. 



On page 58, we read of the supposed " right to motherhood '* 

 in the sense that every woman has a right to become a mother 

 (without marriage being necessary). This is a distinct retrograde 

 step from the human to the pure animal. It is a doctrine of the 

 animal kingdom, but humanity has uses far above bestial ethics ; 

 but his responsibility both to God and his own humanity is degraded 

 by the accepted meaning of the phrase " a right to motherhood." 



Page 59 shows that one in ten mothers are not married, and produce 

 40,000 children. The evil of this is immense, though little thought 

 of. If the strength of Britain lies in its pure family life, all un- 

 married mothei^s sin, not only against God, but against their country, 

 and become in many ways a fertile source of evil, the man who is 



