Polygamy sustained by the Christian Church and the Christian State. The first Synod of the Reformation convened to sanction polygamy. Favoring views of Luther and the other "principal reformers." Favoring action of the American Board of Foreign Missions. Favoring action of a Missionary Conference in India. Mormons compared to the Puritans. Mormon theocracy similar to that of other Christian sects. 175
God's "curse" upon Adam. Opposition of the church to amelioration of woman's suffering as an interference with her "curse." Man's escape from his own "curse." The sufferings of helpless infants and children because of woman's labor. Innutrition and the hard labor of expectant mothers the two great factors in physical degeneration and infantile mortality. Woman's work in Europe and the United States. Woman degraded under Christian civilization to labors unfit for slaves. 191
Sin killed by sin. Woman's inferiority taught from the pulpit today. A Pastoral letter. The See trial. Modern sermons on women. Lenten lectures of Rev. Morgan A. Dix. The Methodist General Conference of 1880, reject Miss Oliver's petition for ordination on the plea that woman already has all the rights that are good for her. Resolves itself into a political convention. The General Conference of 1888, rejects women delegates. The Catholic Plenary Council of 1884. Mazzini's prophecy. The opposition of the church to woman's education has killed off the inhabitants of the world with greater rapidity than war, famine or pestilence. The present forms of religion and governments essentially masculine. 208
The most important struggle in the history of the church. Not self-sacrifice, but self-development woman's first duty in life. The protective spirit; its injury to woman. Christianity of little value to civilization. Looking backward through history; looking forward. 237
[Illustration: Matilda Joslyn Gage, 1880]
The Original Exposé of Male Collaboration Against the Female Sex
This Book is _Inscribed_ to the Memory of my Mother, who was at once mother, sister, friend:
_Dedicated_ to all Christian women and men, of whatever creed or name who, bound by Church or State, have not dared to Think for Themselves:
_Addressed_ to all Persons, who, breaking away from custom and the usage of ages, dare seek Truth for the sake of Truth. To all such it will be welcome; to all others aggressive and educational.