“I know this is not a pleasant or agreeable subject for conversation, but like some other things in life it ought not to be avoided on that account. If I were to write about this, not a paper would publish my article. They are too much absorbed with politics, in detailing the dresses worn at some party or ball, with wars, intrigues, or the events in society, to give any attention to a subject on which the very preservation of society depends, and not only that, but the destiny of souls. Some say we ought never to refer to such things to corrupt the minds of the young. Such people are so simple-minded, as to have forgotten all about the inquisitiveness or the passions of their own youth. The young! They know too much, taught by the example of their elders and the vicious stories in novels, of the intrigues and seductions in society life. They are attracted, allured, rather than repulsed and warned of danger. Another class, and a numerous one, the guilty, the culprits themselves, would frown and declare it was too nasty for anything. They certainly would not like anything that would reflect on their own wicked conduct, or show up their own impurities. “Impurity is the greatest evil of this age. It is worse than cholera, or any pestilence, for these only destroy the bodies, but this undermines the moral nature, and destroys the souls of mankind. We give little attention to this sin of all sins. Fathers and mothers let their children grow up without a word of advice or warning. ‘It is such a delicate subject, you know,’ is the excuse. The clergy discourse on everything, but are as dumb as mummies about this devil of lust. Only a few days ago the chaplain was over here, and I asked his advice and made some statements about some young men, whom I wished to save from ruin, when he interrupted me by saying, ‘M. Le Maistre, these things are too horrible, I wish you had not told me a word about them,’ and away he went, this man who ought to be a sin doctor, a soul curer and saver of souls, went away to gossip with a lot of women at a croquet party. “I am inclined to think that we ought to go back to the Christ that was, begin a new church with a new set of preachers, who would talk less about rites and ceremonies, less about the souls of men, and care something about their bodies, and dare to denounce the sins and lusts of the flesh, and have manhood and courage enough to take for a text, ‘Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her!’ Wouldn’t there be a squirming among the sinners such as your distinguished father, if they dared to preach as Jesus would? Let us have some dinner.” We had a good dinner, and a very pleasant chat among the family present, until the time for my train. On bidding good-bye, I said, “I can trust you.” He answered, “You need have no fear of me.” And I never had.