Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-08
Action of the Vermont Methodist Con-
ference on Divorce, Temperance. &C.,

lows
WHEREAS, The practice of granting divor-
ces by the Vermont courts is becoming pain
fully common and, whereas, the tendency
of this action of our courts is to destroy in
the public mind sense of the sacredness of
the conjugal relation; we, the members of
the Vermont Conference of the NJ. +. Church
feel called upon, in the interests of religion
and public virtue, to give expression to our
estimate of the Divine Law of Marriage and
Divorce, drawn from the declaration of our
Lord. as recorded in the following section:
1.-The Pharsees came unto him, saying, Is
it lawful for a man to put away his wife for
every cause?
And he answered and said unto them,
Have we not read, that he which made them
at the beginning, made them male and female
And said, For this cause shall Il man leave
father and mother, and shall cleave to his
wife; and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore tn no more twain, but
one flesh. What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder.
| They say unto him, Why did Moses then
command to give writing Of enforcement,
and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses, because of the
hardness of your hearts, suffered YOU to put
away your wives bat from the beginning
! IL was not
And say unto you Whosoever shall put
away his wife, save for the cause Of fornica
ton, and shall marry another, committeth
adultery and whose marrieth her which is
put away, doth commit adultery
From this teaching we dcduce rs follows
FIRST. The marriage covenant, origin
ally instituted, was indlssoluble except by
the death Of one of the parties - W hat
God had joined, man might not put asunder. =
Second, That this law was subsequently
modified so as to admit OF a writing Of dl
vorcement, the text affirms - hecause Of
the hardness of men hearts.
Third. That the Divine Law recognizes
but offense that justify bill of d.
vorce. That all marriages which take place
after divorce given for any cause other than
adultery are sinful - W hosoevcr shall put
away his wife except it be for fornication,
and shall marry another, committeth adul-
terry, and whose marrieth her who is put
away, doth commit adultery
Therefore, To all who accept the authority
of the Scriptures, there can be but one judg-
ment.
And your committee recommend the adOp-
ton of the following resolution, as expressing
the sense of this conference
ReSoired That in our opinion there il only
ono cause that can Justify divorce, namely
the ri0ldtion of the Screnth commandment.
The report made by the committee on the
subject of Temperance, closed with the fol-
lowing resolutions, in which expressed
the sentiments of the report
Resolred, That as ministers OF the Gospel we
feel the sacredness Of the charge committed
to our trust, and that we will endeayor t.
bring all the youth and children Of our Sun
day Schools under the banner Of total absti-
nance, by securing as far as practicable, their
names to the total abstinence pledge.
Res0Lred, That We hail with great JOY the
efforts of those members of Congress who are
SO faithfully laboring to cleanse our National
Capitol from intemperance, and we bid them
God speed until the whole B9dV shall become
SO strong that it can march erect and straight
onward in the cause of temperance, even
though the Hedd shall not be sober
Hes0iued, That az members OF the holy
ministry, our main effort should be to use the
power of moral suasion. yet We are firm be
levers in legal suasion, when he former faft<
and that cannot ask tie blessing of God
upon a license iatr, but are firm believers in.
and pledge ourselves 10 the support Of our
prohibitory law, against the opposing efforts
of rumsellers and their abcttors.
Resolred, That az God has prosp red the
Church, a. she has been tree from the vice OF
intemperance, we Will give our niluerce
against the manufacture and use Of domestic
wines, and strive to guard the youth from the
deleterious influence of beer and cider drink
ing saloons, and to all organizations whose
object is to aid us IN this work OF saving the
youth and reforming and rcscuIng the fallen,
and securing 10 US and our children freedom
from all that intOxicatcs.
Resolred. That we regard the practice Of
holding donation visits at hotels where Intoxi-
eating liquors are reported To be sold, as Diet
rmental 10 the cause of temperance, rs Well
as the Christian character ami influence If the
ministers for whom such visits made.
Rcsolrcd, That we rejoice in the formation
and success of the National Temperance So
ciety and Publication House, now located at
l72 William Street, New York city, and
heartily recommend the circulation OF those
publications which are designed to promote
the cause of temperance, especially the Ma
honGL Temperance AdrOcdte, the Youth 5 Ten.
perance Banner. Scripture Testimony against
Vine and the Temperance Chimes
Resoiued, That We recommend that thor
ough. pointed and torcble temperance ser
mons be preached II all the congregations In
June, ana that contributions be solicited TO
be used by our State Temperance Society,
with which to disseminate temperance india
ence, publications and !abors through the
State.
The Conference expressed itself fully the
state of the country, taking advanced ground
in favor of liberty and equal rights lis tone
may he judged. from the following
Civil governments are ord lined Of God and
should be founded the mmutable princi-
pies of Justice, if we would see them perna-
nently established and prosperous. Our faith
ers designed to establish this government ON
this broad basis, but unfortunately the con
stitution adopted was 50 framed that many
construed it as allowing slavery. As the rc
suit of this, slavery in process of time became
the ruling power of the nation, and sought,
through Its abettors, with its reasonable
hands TO tear down the glorious temple of lib
erty, and bury it in oblivion.
This work of destruction, attempted on the
part of bloody and ungratetul traitors
against humanity, eliminated in civil war
which lasted for four years, slaughtered hun
dreds of thousands OF our nohlest SONS. filled
the land with mourning, and created
tiona debt Of some three billions Of dollars.
OppressOrs would not allow the Gospel to
strike off the chains from the limbs y four
millions of slaves, and God suffered the
sword TO do this glorious work.
1 he former oppressors, however, have
sought to retain the spirit of slavery; but,
thanks be to God, Congress has manfully
faced this treason against civil and religious
liberty, and caused 1t to quail; and hope is
now entertained that this nation viii not on
ly be free from all oppression in torns but in
spirit, forever hereafter and the elective
franchise will be granted to all men Of every
color.
Justice to the colorcd race demands this at
the hands of this government, they ha We
bravely fought to save the nation from utter
ruin, = Justice to them az children of a com
mon Father.
In conclusion, we, as Il Conference, would
III md. lI.a.l Coz