“The fact is that the teachings of our people are wrong. They always uphold what they do themselves, and make excuses for those who do like them. One cannot take up a high society English novel but he reads of the seduction and ruin of some poor ignorant girl by some titled roue. High society seems to demand and gloat over such rotten mental food, as it enjoys its rank over ripe game. If not, why are such books written, and some of them by women, too? If the literature of every nation is the mirror of its mind, what can be the minds of those who write and read such books? The level of public morality must be very low when the higher classes can delight in such things. If these stories were written to condemn vice and licentiousness, to show the curse and crime of wrong-doing, I would say nothing, for I am not a prude, but the most of these stories make the amours and seductions by their heroes as something to be admired, rather than horrible and repulsive. “If there is any truth in Christianity, or any force in morality, it should be used against the great vices of the nation, as well as of the individual. But, as the Rev. Mr. Morley, in the “Times,” says: ‘The church has nothing to say to public justice and mercy, to the spirit of our legislation, to the union of hearts and minds embracing all classes and conditions. All this it leaves to the world.’ “What are all the sweet mouthings in church about baptismal regeneration and holy communion, when the majority of those listening are constantly violating the laws of God and their own natures, and not a word about this? I suppose all the soldiers in these regiments have been baptized. Were they regenerated? If so, they must have got over it very quickly. If there is any virtue in baptism, they should be baptized every day, and by immersion, even to drowning, and then they would not be fit to live on earth, much less to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. “The trouble is, that in the churches, faith and morals, creed and practice have been divorced, and do not live together. Many of these soldiers would probably be astonished if it was suggested to them that their religion had anything to do with their passions or their lusts. They would probably answer as the old negro woman did, who had stolen a goose. She went to church and gave testimony for Jesus. When reproached by her mistress for doing such a thing, after her theft, she exclaimed: ‘Do you think I would deny my Lord and Master for the sake of a goose?’” At this I interrupted him, by asking if these girls and women were restrained and prevented from leaving?