Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-28
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

al DissOIutiOn--A Church FuImina-
lion on the subject.
At the Episcopal Diocesan Convention
held in Chicago last week, Bishop White
house. in his annual address, delivered on
Friday, made the following reference to
the subject of marriage and divorce:
at il not to be doubted that, in harmony
with the march of deeper reflection, moral
sense and religious principle Of our coun-
try, you have been shocked and startled by
the spreading depreciation Of the marriage
tie; the facility with which divorce from
il Is obtained, the demoralizing statements
and facts on the subject which are shown
in formal discussion, current Literature,
the daily press, and licentiOus cohabita-
ton. / would be thankful If reasonable
doubt could be sustained on this awful fact
OF our vehement age. 1t is more than an
accident. 1t is linked with deep, unprin-
cipled purpose. II is movement of so
cialism and inidelity, of a multitude who
have grown up creedless aud hence goddess,
Of an education which has instructed the
mind and neglected the affections, of a
philosophy which glorif@ the instincts and
passions of our corrupt nature and defies
animal impulse, as the voice of God. As
the marriage contract is only civil obliga-
ton, and State law il, in many respects
loose, in the guards and checks upon it,
facilities are offered for separation and di-
vorce which tempt a resort 10 this formal
dissolution in cases Of mere domestic dis
arrangement and hardship. The moral
effect of discipline, from the conviction Of
the all but irreyocable force Of the vow,
has thus become peryadingly damaged.
Husband and wife alike admit the practical
bigity Of separation as a remedy, and the
causes which ultimately force the final
plunge, are allowed to gather and roll on
Ia needless defiance.
"Ths facility of separation destroys all
mutual confidence and inilames every Fri.
fling dispute. There are solemn warnings
on this fearful social decadence on the page
Of history. Greece and Rome, for ages,
shame our Christian licentiousness.
Roman philosophers, poets and sstirists
hold up 10 public scorn and Indignation
the wanton and extensive abuse Of liberty
of divorce which probably did not equal
ours. The institution Of Romulus made
the marriage indissoluble, and though the
twelve tables gave 10 the husband the free.
dom of divorce, yet the republic had ex
listed five hundred years when the first in
stsnce Of divorce occurred, and the distin-
guished experimenter was loaded for it
with public opprobrium. Augustus en-
deavored by law TO put some restraint upon
the facility of divorce, but the check was
overpowered by the prevailing corruptness
Of manners. Il was the beginning Of the
end, when that great nation persisted, ut
terly destroyed by its own corruption.
"When the French revolution swept
away the usages Of ages and the sanctity of
religion. its special war seemed against
the marriage contract, and six thousand
divorces are said 10 have taken place, in
the city of Paris alone, in the space Of two
years and three months.
"The Roman Catholic church sustains
the absolute indissolubility Of the marriage
tie, and in the State of South Carolina,
where the same scrupulous policy existed,
il is stated that not an instance occurred of
a division Of any kind, either by the
act Of the Legislature, from the revolution
down TO the opening Of the recent struggle.
"lf there be truth beyond all ques-
ton, where Gods law, social experience,
the uniform record Of our species, every
source Of testimony, warning and appeal
concur, il is the sacredness of the marriage
bond, and the national decline which at
tends tolerated disregard or facile rap
ture of its divine constitution.
"The canon law, though less peremp-
tory in the esteem of the anglican churches
than in the council Of Trent, has fully sus-
tanned the obligations of holy matrimony,'
and will not allow any cause except in
confluence az valid for contracting Of an
other marriage.
know not what can stay our moral
decline in this relation, the source and
conservator of all the substantial interests
of time and eternity, and rouse an inhuen-
tial control through our legislative, judi
cial and ecclesiastical authority. But
must at least instruct you, brethren Of the
clergy, 10 exercise vigilance of inquiry
and devout respect for its divine signih-
canoe in every case of marriage coming
before YOU. IL the world degrades the
contract into a mere civil transaction, you
must never forget that in your Own hands
il is the office Of holy matrimony, deep
toned in its sacramental character, where
every charge and prayer is from the con-
viction Of Christian faith. It's solemn
VOWS are god-ward, and the church pro-
nounces over those clasped hands those
whom God hath joined together, let no
man put asunder.'
Exercise a discretion becoming your
holy calling, and in every way within your
power insist on its performance, as sol
emn act OF religion, or else decline TO do
il. Do not lower your parlOr TO Justices
Office. on a sudden call from strangers, and
without competent witnesses. Do net pros
titute the service 10 the mere legal union
of those who esteem not enough the So
lemnity 10 come 20 il reverently, soberly,
advisedly and in the fear Of God We
refuse our burial service 20 the unbaptlzed
and to the conscious suicide; and l know
NOT why our church has not nerve and dis
cipline enough 10 require the same rell-
gious qualification Of baptism and conhrma-
fion as preliminaries for the Office Of holy
matrimonv. Our rubric prescribes def,
initelv that persons 10 be married shall
come into the body Of the church with
their friends and neighbors, or shaii be
ready in some proper house, and themother
church adds: 1t is convenient that the
new married persons should receive the |
bolv communion at the first opportunity |
after their marriage
RESOLUTION on THE suBJBcr
Suhseouently the Convention adopted |
he following resolution on the subject
Resolved, That the Deputiesrepresentlng
his Diocese in the mex. General ConYen-
ion be instructed to procure by general
canon law, with suitable qualifications, a
Prohibition of the use Of the marriage ser
ice of the church in cases where either
,arty contemplating marriage shall have
zen previously divorced by the civil law,
n Grounds other than that Of adultery;
nd also procure a rule Of duty to be fol-
owed by clergymen whose services are
hus applied for in ascertaining the facts
caring upon such prohibition.