THE HIGHER DEMANDS OF HUMAfftm 
Above and beyond all the innumerable Institutions for the preservation of the 
public peace and good order, with which modern civilization abounds, there yet 
remains another, and the most important step to a complete renovation of Society, 
from the moral and physical evils with which it is burdened. And that step takes 
us directly to the primal source and root of all disorders, which are transmitted 
onward from generation to generation, in violation of the fundamental right of 
every human being to be born in good moral and physical health. 
And the great problem now confronting us, and demanding solution is, how to 
set and continue in motion such pre-natal influences, as shall make the hereditary 
tendencies of future generations wholly good ? So that little will be required 
from the environment or surrounding conditions to keep posterity entirely in the 
line of spiritual and physical health, and right moral action ; and so take off a 
large share of the burdens with which civilized society is laden. And in the 
sincere hope that what is therein contained will meet with your cordial approval 
and support, your attention is respectfully called to the following statements and 
PROSPECTUS. 
The problems of social disorder,—of disease, poverty, vice, crime, have taxed 
the highest wisdom of the greatest philosophers, statesmen and publicists in all 
periods of history. In his ideal Republic, Plato seems to have made the nearest 
approach to its solution, by training his guardians under the laws of Heredity. 
Since his time immense progress has been made in knowledge of the laws of life 
and social relations ; and numerous writers, with their thousands of readers and 
students of more comprehensive scientific knowledge than Plato ever dreamed 
of. are now traversing this deeply interesting and most important field of inquiry. 
The profoundest thinkers are convinced of the futility of all the means em- 
ployed, to put an end to, or any effective check upon, the diseases and sufferings 
with which humanity is burdened. And they have traced back these evils to 
inherited habitual tendencies, which originated in the earlier barbarous conditions 
of the race ; which gained strength during its cruder civilizations, and so at length 
became the family heritage. And they are further convinced, that this is not the 
normal condition of the race. That it has been wholly induced by practices and 
habits long continued from generation to generation, which at length became 
transmitted by the laws of heredity, as organic tendencies. 
A nd what has been done by habits can be undone by "reversing the processes, or 
discontinuing the habits. 
It is now clearly established, that the causes of our human degradation and 
loss, and the means of our elevation and gain, are within us. The way of 
redemption, and ascension to higher life is by a right use of those powers and 
faculties, the perversion of which has resulted in so much suffering and misery to 
our race. The generative power must be educated, trained,.and guided by the 
highest wisdom and scientific culture, as the only sure foundation of effective and 
permanent reform. We restrain, govern, and direct the operations of nature in the breeding of 
horses, cattle, sheep; in the production of fruit#, flowers, and other departments 
of biology, while in this transcendent field of hum in culture, which so deeply 
concerns the welfare of our race, we suffer them to run wild, according to their 
own blind, wayward impulses. 
No one thinks in advance, what sort of people it is desirable to have' born, and 
to live here, as members of our common family. And so no care whatever is taken 
in the preparation of the souls or bodies of those who are to usher them into 
existence, and send them to their tasks in life’s work-fields. And so people 
Suffering from disease, and with hereditary tendencies to vice and crime, are 
constantly sowing broadcast the seeds of private and public disorder in their 
offspring. Hence about forty per cent, of aU the children that are born, die and 
are hurried into the earth before they are five years old. And of those who come to 
maturity, what numbers are idiots, lunatics, drunkards, thieves, trmrderers,—who 
continue to burden and afflict society with their own wretched progeny without a 
word of remonstrance from any quarter. 
What breeder of live stock would rest content with seeing nearly one-half of 
colts, calves, lambs, &c., die before they were one quarter grown ? and of those 
which came to maturity, a large per cent, diseased, misshapen monstrosities ; and 
others so vicious and ugly, as not' only to be useless but dangerous ; and so sent 
to the pound or slaughter-house tt) keep them from doing mischief. Our Churches, 
Masonic Lodges, and other associations, sit in judgment on the moral and physical 
characters of proposed members ; and exclude, and even expel, those that are 
unfit. 
And yet, such are the facts in regard to the character of a large number of 
those who enter in the structure of General Society, that we are compelled to 
support an immense array of courts, sheriffs, constables, jails, prisons, lunatic 
asylums, hospitals, &c., with standing armies of policemen, armed with club and 
revolver, to protect us from the peace-breakers of our own begetting. And in 
spite of all these, the night-prowling thieves, burglars, and assassins, fill us with 
such a sense of insecurity, that we can hardly sleep in our beds. 
Century after century have Church and State, with all their vast, complicated 
and cumberous machinery, enforced their empirical methods with terrible penal- 
ties and at tremendous cost, for the purpose of putting an end to these evils ; and 
with the most wretched results. And above all this, what vast amounts are 
expended in voluntary contributions of money and labor in the various forms of 
charitable relief, with the same hopeless and unsatisfactory results. And for the 
reason that we have battled against effects, while leaving causes in unchecked 
operation. 
The causes are congetiital. People who are born with theft and murder in the 
blood, will steal and kill. The jailor and hangman neither cure them nor check 
their tendencies, nor thin their ranks. For as fast as we imprison and hang 
criminals, others are born to take their places. So that all our conflicts with evil, 
result in a long-drawn battle. 
Shall we forever continue the old treadmill process ? The wheel forever sinking 
down as we climb, and we forever no nearer the top ? Why should we continue 
to weary and exhaust ourselves in this endless circuit, with all the means of 
deliverance in our own hands, and under our own control ? 
If disease and death are tfansmitted from our first parents by the law of hered- 
ity, the atonement and reconciliation are in the transmission of health and life to 
our posterity by the same law. So the way of escape is right onwards and 
upwards. The true way of regenerating the race, is through scientific generation. The 
demand of the time is, that we lay the right foundations of character, by fixing 
the organic tendencies of children, in moral and physical health, before birth. 
And this demand is founded on natural law and the convictions of science. 
And only requires the same enlightened culture in this, which guides our conduct 
in other relations. And in this, as in other relations, there must be light,— 
knowledge. 
“ Lust, and avarice, and anger, 
Creep in the black jungles of man’s ignorance.” 
It is in ignorance and darkness, that wild, untamed, lawless passions find their 
most convenient burrowing-places :—that the evil surmisjngs of uncultured imagi- 
nation, riot to both private and public injury. And all the restraints and repres- 
sive measures, of law and public opinion combined, have failed, and must forever 
fail, to put an end to these evils, so long as the passions are left to wander in 
darkness, without the guidance of an enlightened understanding. The moral 
pestilence walks in the darkness of ignorance ; while the light of knowledge, in 
its very nature, purifies and elevates the mind and affections. 
And on this subject, the doors and windows of knowledge must be thrown wide 
open. Light must be let in, and the goblins of disease, and sin, and suffering must 
be driven out by radical and thorough education and culture. 
And here also, will be found, the only means of preserving the innocence and 
purity of childhood. From age to age, the established guardians of the public 
morals have held that it is not safe to impart knowledge on the subject of genera- 
tion ; about which knowledge is so much needed and desired. And when the 
wondering child comes to father or mother with curious questionings, he is at 
once silenced with a commanding “ Hush ! ” and goes away wondering and ques- 
tioning still more. 
The child grows to youth ; and stealthily obtains some snatches of knowledge 
which only sharpen his appetite for more. And that appetite leads him to swal- 
low with avidity, whatever information he may obtain on this subject, however 
foul it may be, with merely sensual, profane, and degrading associations. And if 
the obscene book-vender finds here a market for his wares, it is because we have 
unlawfully withheld knowledge, which it is the lawful right of every human being 
to possess. 
And if we would not have the minds of our children profaned and corrupted, 
our only safeguard is, to impart to them all needed and desired knowledge, in 
a pure, chaste and elevating way. Then, their minds being filled with the true 
light, there will be no room or desire for that which is false. And tiken, there 
being no demand for his wares, the occupation of the obscene publisher will be 
gone. 
But, if we still keep our children in ignorance and darkness, from our moral 
constitution, and the very structure and necessities of the human soul, the laws 
of our being will avenge themselves on our cowardice and pusilanimity, by thrust- 
ing into their vacant minds, such partial, distorted, and even debasing knowledge 
as by any means may come in their way; and against which we are so zealously 
but vainly trying to guard. 
The initial point of such a work must be established somewhere. And we 
should begin at once to train the young,—our future responsible citizens,—to 
regard it as a high crime and misdemeanor, to bring children into the world, laden 
with hereditary tendencies to disease, or vice, or crime. For on becoming public 
burdens, such children, in obedience to the laws of compensation, only react the 
crime first committed agdinst them. A movement of such vast and immeasurable importance to the human family, 
must be conducted by persons of the highest wisdom, courage and devotion to 
public duty. And in the earnest hope and expectation that such persons will soon 
appear ready for their work; as a co-laborer therein, and as preliminary steps 
towards the formation of an 
IZbTSTIT-CTTDE: OF HEREDITY, 
which shall found a library, establish lectureships, with schools of instruction, and 
take in hand the diffusion of knowledge on the subject of improving our race by 
the laws of physiology,— 
I propose, with the aid of such as may volunteer their patronage and support, 
to open a school and lecture-room in Boston, with the nucleus of a library, for 
such conversations, consultations, and illustrated lectures, as may awaken interest, 
and lead on towards a realization of these great and beneficent ends. But little, 
however, can be accomplished single-handed and alone. As the movement will 
encounter misunderstanding, opposition, and even ridicule and reproach, from 
ignorance, prejudice and bigotry, it must be sustained by the highest wisdom, 
prudence and forbearance. Hence it will need the sympathy and co-operation of 
every enlightened philanthropist and reformer. 
A movement of this sort will go back to the origin of individual life, and the 
very root of social order and well-being; and the public mind and feeling must 
be educated to an exalted and abiding reverence for everything pertaining to sex. 
Fpr the true Shakinah is man ; wherein dwells the holiest. And the holiest in 
• man is sex ; which incarnates the sacred mystery of motherhood and fatherhood ; 
ahd the highest ministry of God in the reproduction and perpetuation of the 
human family. 
And this PROSPECTUS will be sent to those presumed to be interested in the 
deepest problems of social science, and to comprehend the need and importance 
of such a movement to the peace and security of society, and the welfare of our 
race. And from ail such, contributions of books, pamphlets, essays, bearing on 
the subject, to be placed in the library for study and reference ; and also for the 
means of supplying the lecture-room with physiological apparatus, are respectfully 
solicited. Due notice will be given of the initial lectures, which will commence as 
soon as sufficient encouragement is afforded. 
Correspondence on this subject, with full and open expression of views, or any 
form of aid to the proposed movement, addressed to the undersigned, at Boston, 
Mass., will be gratefully acknowledged. - 
LORING MOODY. 
Boston, 1880.