LOVE—MARRIAGE—
BIRTH CONTROL
Being a Speech delivered at the Church
Congress at Birmingham, October, 1921:
WITH A FOREWORD
BY
London
NISBET & CO. LTD.
22 BERNERS STREET, W.1
First Published January, 1922
Reprinted January, 1922
Reprinted February, 1922
Reprinted April, 1922
All rights reserved
[5]FOREWORD
At the Church Congress held this autumn atBirmingham I was honoured by an invitationto speak on “Sexual Relationships.”
The subject-matter of that speech has arousedwidespread interest and some controversy. It isbeing published in response to numerous requestsand because most of the reports, being of necessitycondensed, inadequately and even in some instancesincorrectly set forth the views I endeavoured tochampion; for any speech on a subject so difficultto handle needs to be read in its entirety if misapprehensionsare to be avoided.
And first, may I thank numerous correspondents;and those in disagreement equally with those inagreement with me. One and all they bear testimony,if indeed such were needed, to how widespreadand responsible is the interest on this question,and therefore to the wisdom of its full consideration.Amongst the letters are intimate humandocuments which pathetically disclose, as does professionalexperience, how frequently happiness ismarred by ignorance of either the principles or the[6]methods which should condition the true conceptionof sexual relationships.
I elected to deal with these relationships in theirhealthy rather than their morbid aspects, becausethe study of health is a sure way to lessen disease.Mere denunciations of evil serve but small purpose.The aim of statesmanship is rather to seek out causesand ponder over remedies, and prominent amongremedies is surely the study of the significance andpurport of sex love in a well-ordered and Christiancommunity and provision for its healthy outlet. Tothis the first part of my speech was devoted. Theview there upheld has brought forth a large measureof agreement and no reasoned disagreement.
The second part of my speech dealing with birthcontrol (or what in strict accuracy should be calledconception control) has aroused more controversy,but I venture to think that some, at least, of thecriticism directed against my argument will disappearwith a perusal of this full text of my speech. Thereinwill be found condemnation of infertile marriagesand a strong plea that children are essential to thehealth and happiness of man and woman, are necessaryto each other and of vital importance to thenation.
The difference between my critics and myself isnot as to the vital necessity of the family following[7]marriag