THE FRIEND OF VIRTUE. A Periodical Published Semi-Monthly by the New England Female Moral Reform Society. Volume 13 to 15 (1850-1852).

AN OUTGROWTH OF THE FEMALE SOCIAL MOVEMENT OF THE "SECOND GREAT AWAKENING" DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF AMERICAN MORAL PURITY. Stout octavo (8.75 inches). A continuous run of 55 issues of The Friend of Virtue, a periodical published semi-monthly by the New England Female Moral Reform Society. Edited exclusively By a Lady (Miss Rebecca Eaton). The volume contains: Volume 13 (1850), Issues 18-24 + Index; Volume 14 (1851), Issues 1-24 + Index; and Volume 15 (1852), Issues 1-24 + Index. Approximately 875 pages in all. Each issue is 16 pages, with an illustrated masthead at the top of the first page (the masthead illustration changed in 1852 from a young woman and lamb surrounded by flowers and doves to a depiction of Jesus talking to a young woman). Volume 15 is prefaced by a general title page with the Constitution of the New England Female Moral Reform Society printed on the verso. Half black calf and plum cloth boards, flat spine, gilt rules and titles (noting 1851 & 52 only). Spine calf somewhat distressed but still in very good condition. Boards faded. Front inner hinge strengthened. The interior is generally clean, but with some scattered water stains, spotting, browning, and the occasional dog-eared corner, together with several leaves that have dark water stains in the outer margins, a few of which have a bit of loss in the blank margin but without loss of text. In good to near very good condition. Provenance: With the ownership signature of Mary E. Foss (dated 1853) on the front endpaper (also written as Miss M.E. Foss and M.E. Foss at the top right corner of many issues). A letter received by the Society from "M.E. Foss, Dover" is noted on page 192 of Volume 15 (1852). It seems that Mary E. Foss was a subscriber to The Friend of Virtue and that the volume was bound for her. As a groundbreaking ladies magazine of moral reform, The Friend of Virtue addressed social problems in a straight-forward manner. It spoke out against bad behaviour and immoral actions of some women, and warned young females of the deception of men and the dangers of sexual violence and rape. The New England Female Moral Reform Society and its periodical The Friend of Virtue were founded during an era known as the "Second Great Awakening," a period of Protestant religious revival in the rising middle class of the United States that encouraged social reform. New religious movements emerged during this period, such as Adventism, Dispensationalism, and the Latter-Day Saint movement, and also led to the founding of several related colleges, seminaries, and mission societies. During the period of revival, mothers acted as the moral and spiritual foundation of the family, and instructed children and young adults in matters of religion and social ethics. Articles in The Friend of Virtue were centred on a variety of topics of interest to women, such as the evils of prostitution, temperance, gambling, vagrancy, the abolition of slavery in the United States, religious instruction and training of children, trappings of fashion, crime, evil books, and the fight for women's social and political rights, and were designed to inform, influence, organize, and mobilize females to fight for (or against) the various causes. Through the publication, women were inspired to create a more heavenly America by eradicating immoral practices, help to reform society, and create an environment where women were valued and respected.…