Each of these theories involves sedular absorption through intercourse
without culmination. No discharge is allowed, but by a superior control
is retained, thereby making the act an amative (love) act, and uplifting
it from an exhaustive, abrupt fertilising function into a quiet magnetic
charm, producing health and increased happiness.
The act of sexual intercourse has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Its
beginning or first stage is simply the presence of the male organ in the
female. The middle or second stage is a series of reciprocal motions.
The end or third stage is the ejaculatory crisis, or the termination of
the act. The advocates of male continence, Zugassent’s discovery,
sedular absorption, and magnetation claim that the whole process up to
the third stage is entirely voluntary and can be stopped at any point.
It is compared to a stream in the three conditions of a fall, a course
of rapids above the fall, and still water above the rapids. The boatman
may decide if he will remain in still water or venture down the rapids,
or run his boat over the fall. They contend that experience will teach
him the wisdom of remaining where the rowing is easy, unless the object
is worthy of going over the falls. Karezza advises to content oneself
with simple presence in the first stage until the magnetic thrill passes
off. They are all similar and all aim at the same result. I head them
under one method—“magnetation.”
Those who practise it claim the highest possible enjoyment, with no loss
of vitality and a perfect control of the fecundating power. Its practice
greatly involves the art of love by a prolonged intercourse preventing
that which puts an end to intercourse—the ejaculation. The seminal
fluid, it is claimed, has an immense immanent value; and if kept in the
system and magnetised, and reabsorbed by the blood, adds enormously to a
man’s mental and magnetic force, which through the ordinary sexual act
is constantly being expended. That its practice by some men will be
difficult there can be no doubt; but it can be no more difficult or need
a greater power of control than that required of the man in the act of
“coitus interruptus” (withdrawal). Those who practise magnetation claim
that it is far removed from “repelling asceticism”; that it gives ample
exercise to the affections, and opportunity for the exchange of sexual
magnetism; but that its greatest benefit is that its practice conduces
to a higher love development. It is the attainment of this control that
raises the sexual passion in man and woman to its proper place by the
side of music and poetry.
The strongest objection which is put forth against its practice is that
it is “unnatural”; that it is unauthorised by the examples of other
creatures of the animal kingdom, and therefore must be wrong. But the
answer comes that cooking, wearing clothes, and all modern life is far
removed from natural living; and were we to remain in close adherence to
Nature, we would go on all fours and remain dumb.
When we realise we are living in an age when nearly all departments of
life have been greatly modified and advanced by recent discoveries of
steam, electricity, the telephone, telegraphy, the microscope, and other
agents of enlightenment, is it not surprising that there has been almost
no discovery or improvement in the vital department of the sex
relations? The explorer, the pioneer, the discoverer may pursue his way
into every department of life, and return to lay his riches at the feet
of Science, Art, or Invention; but woe to him who dares to explore that
shaded valley of sex. No matter how pure the motive, or what agony and
miseries one sought to alleviate, dungeons, persecutions, slanders, and
jails await him who ventures to bring treasures from its hidden depths.
Yet there is no other department of life which needs so much instruction
and education as the sex department.
A healthful sexual stimulation has a beneficial effect on both men and
women, especially when the loved one is accessible and some
demonstration of sexual feeling allowed, as in the restrained yet ardent
caresses of an affianced pair. Here we often see not only the happiest
but the most productive and healthful period of a man’s life. It is said
this is particularly true of man’s intellectual activities.
We see a year later this same happy pair experience a great falling off
in their affection. Women have experienced this so often that they begin
to hate the sexual relation, and look upon the act either with fear of
pregnancy or with an unconquerable loathing. Of course, a great deal of
this aversion which women experience is the result of their former
training. The girl is taught before marriage that the act is a most
degrading thing, and is told that it is the accomplishment of this one
thing for which man desires her before marriage. Afterwards all is
supposed to be changed. She is expected to have an entirely new
philosophy as soon as the marriage certificate is in her hands. The
average young man knows little of the art of love, and is consequently
unable to beautify their relations or to teach her a new psychology. The
first year is spent in secret misery on her side, and ruptures and
misunderstandings between them both. The average woman will tell you she
loves to be caressed and to express her affection for her husband, but
could be quite satisfied without intercourse. This is especially true of
the intellectual woman, who is acknowledging her lessening interest in
the sex relation, and even repulses affectionate demonstration, fearing
it must terminate in sexual intercourse (mainly the fear of pregnancy).
Surely this is something to be squarely faced by every intelligent man
and woman, and serious enough to deserve our untiring interest.
Something must be wrong. What is it? Does this theory offer a solution
to any? It may. Nearly all women who practise it testify to its
benefits, while few men complain of it. Those who do, say that to
control the ejaculation to-day means a seminal loss later during sleep.
The advocates, however, say this will occur at first, but after the
organs become accustomed to their new function this will wear off, and
there will be no seminal loss.
All men in the Oneida community realised that this control was a
necessary attainment if they would be regarded with favor by the women
in the group. Its accomplishment was necessary to their mutual
happiness, and they had to learn it. If there is a method which in
practice expresses the highest mutual affection and reveals one’s own
strength and power, then by all means let mankind know it.
There is no earthly reason why men and women should not study the laws
of sex expression as any other science is studied, and it should be a
study not only intellectual, but of experience and adjustment. If, as is
claimed, the experience of this method must be practised on a higher
plane of thought than the purely physical, then certainly it must tend
toward a finer companionship and understanding between men and women
than the fleeting physical gratification prevailing at present. If there
is anything which controverts the traditional uncleanliness previously
attached to the sex relation, if there is anything which brings a
blending of body and spirit or an ennoblement of the character of the
individual, then by all means let us have it in its fullest detail, and
let this revolting ignorance and prudery holding sway over men and
women’s minds so long be swept away for all time. Let us have light,
through discussion, experience, and adjustment.
There are few men who desire to expose the object of their affection to
the burden of bearing children faster than her health will permit. They
realise a woman’s strength is greatly undermined and her beauty and
grace fast ebbing away; but ignorance and tradition have him in their
grip. He knows nothing about the means to prevent it, and allows the one
he loves best to wither and fade before his eyes.
It is especially necessary for the woman to be free from the mental
dread of pregnancy. There is nothing so productive of nervous disorders
or so likely to decrease the sexual attraction or magnetation as fear
and anxious thought. Perfect confidence in the man’s ability to control
himself is essential to the perfection and desired results of these
methods. Just as one begins, so can one develop. Young men and women
about to enter alliances and desirous to establish a lasting affection
and higher bond between themselves can easily put this method into
practice and control the sex functions. The more magnetic the
individual, the greater the sex attractions between those who love, and
the stronger the bond will grow between them, through this “magnetation”
method.
The expression and adjustment of all theories is so largely personal
that special regulations can scarcely be given. The road to science and
the great natural laws are discovered through experience: there is no
education but that of experience.