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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1837-1901] Victorian Age » Joseph Henry Hutton

Joseph Henry Hutton

Sermon Against Cruelty to Animals

Practical Sermons for Boys

[1875] Joseph Henry Hutton, "Against Cruelty to Animals," in Practical Sermons for Boys (London, 1875) 74-81; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks.

If cruelty to intelligent conscious beings (who have always some means of protection and redress in their hands, even if they do not like to use them,) is unmanly, still more unmanly surely is cruelty to dumb creatures, who have either no weapons, or insufficient weapons, of defence, and no redress whatever.

Oh that you all would learn this hallowed lesson ! Like the beneficent Father of all, to maintain ever a deep and reverential care for the unoffending, harmless creatures that God has made and loves, though men so seldom do; for could we always do so, did we always cherish this reverential care in our hearts for the dumb yet meekly-breathing creatures of this beautiful world, we certainly could never find sources, either of pleasure or pride, in circumstances that bring only pain and sorrow to the patient victims of our superior strength and will.