There are laws laid down which should not be violated, and
the greatest crimes have become so common that the world thinks
little or nothing of them. Thousands of delicate women are united
to men who show them not the least consideration — she being his
'^property*' ho can take license and she thereby becomes the
most wretched of slaves. B'lt through this patriarchal order
(deride it as they may) is to come the emancipation of woman-
kind, which has been decreed, as well as the restoration of all
the human family who have not sinned against all hope of their
redemption. That U is a trial, no sensitive woman nor sensible
man will deny, but what is the whole of life if not a trial, and
what righteous movement or refonn was ever yet inaugurated,
without human suffering to some degree?

But those who think that men have no trials in the plural
order of marriage, are greatly deceived. The wives have far
greater liberty than the husband, and they have the power to
make him happy or veiy unhappy. For this cause, among
others, there are not many men itho are willing to take upon
themselves these extra burdens and responsibilities, even for
the sake of a higher gloiy hereafler. It certainly takes consi-
derable religion and faith to stimulate a man who loves a quiet,
easy*going life, to take up this cross, even with the hope of a
future crown. For the benefit of readers who may doubt this I
will here relate the experience of my sainted &ther and
mother :

My mother told me repeatedly that she could not doubt that
this plural order was of divine origin, for the Lord had shown
it to her in answer to prayer. She was so cOascientious and of
such strong faith, that she never doubted after once being con-
vinced of the truth, but she had to be convinced before accept-
ing any principle. 