Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-01
Marriage and Divorce.

The RI, Rev.-Hcnry j. ,Whitehousc, D. D.,
Il. L. D. Bishop of the Episcopal Church, in
his annual address at Chicago, before the
Episcopal Convention, spoke thus with res
peel TO marriage and divorce:
sTt is not to be doubted that, in harmony
with the march of deeper reflection, moral
sense and religious principle Of our country,
ss:::al:,adi5a depreciation Of the marriage tie;
the facility with which divorce from lis ob.
tanned. land The demurahziDg, statements and
facts on lie subject which are shown in for
NAL discussion, current literature, the daily
nress and licoulious cohabltalion. l would
he thankful if reasonable doubt could be sus-
4intd on this awful fact of our vehement age
IL is more than an accident. 1t is linked
with deep. unprinciplcd purposes tits m lve
rnent Of social. socialism and lnhdellty, OF
multitude who have grown up creedless and
hence podess, Of u education which has in.
slrucled the mind and neg elected the affections
of philosophy which glqrlfes the lnstlcts
and passions oi our Corrupt nature and deheS
animal impulse, as the voice of God. AS the
marriage contract is ouly civil obligation,
and State law Is, in many respects, loose, IN
the guards and checks uponit, facilities are
offered for separation and divorce which tempt
. resort 10 unis formal dissolution IN cases OF
mere domestic cdissarrangcnent and hardship.
The moral effect OF disclp!ine,- from the con-
yiction of the all but irrevocuble force OF the
vow, has thus become pervadirgly damaged.
Husband and wife alike admit the practica
bjlity of separation as remedy, and the causes
which ultimately force tho fral plunge are
allowed to gather aud roll on in needless de-
fance. :,
:."The facility of separation destroys, all
mutual confidence and inaames every trltlng
disuute. There are solemn warnings on this
fearful social decadence n the page oil hlsto,
ry. i. Greece ard Rome, for ages, shame our
Christian licentiousness. Roman philosophers,
poets and satiris,s hold up TO public scorn
and Indignation the wauton aid extensive
abuse of liberty of divorce which propaoiy
did not equal ours.
@TKe institution Of Romulus made the
marriage iudissolubie, and though the twelve
tables eave.to the husband the freedom OF di-
yorce, yet the republic. had existed hive hun
dred years when tl:c first instance Of divorce
occurred, and the distinguished experimenter
was loaded for it with public opprobripm. Au'
gustus endcavoured 10y law toput some re-
straint upon the facility. of divorce, but the
check was overpowered by the prevailing
corruptness Of manners. It was the begin
ming Of tile end, when that great nation
persisted, utterly DESTROYED by Its own eorrup'
tion. "a srs5 - -
"Whet the French revolution swept away
the usuage of ages and the sanctlty OF relig-
ion, its special war seemed against the mar
riage contract, and six thousand divorces are
said to have taken place in the City OF Paris
alone, in the space Of two years and three
months
aThe Roman Catholic Church sustains the
absolute indissolubility of the marriage tie
and in the State of South Carolina, where the
same sorupuloue policy existed. it is. stated
tbot not an instance occurred of division
of any kind, either by the sentence OF court
of justice or by the act oflegislature, from the
Revolution down to the opening OF the recent
struggle.
"lf:tbere be o truth beyond oil question,
where Gods law, a,cial. experience, the uni,
form record 81 our species, every source Of
testimony, warning and appeal concur, iti
the sacredness of lhe marriage bond, and the
national decline which attends tolerated
disregard or facie rupture of its divine con-
stitution.. - ,'tiT~ -
"The cannon law, though less peremptory
in the esteem of The Anglican churches than
in the Council of Trent, has fully sustained ed
the obligations Of holy matrinony.' and will
not allow any cause except lncontinence as
valid for Contracting of another marriage,
~ know not what can stay our moral de-
cline in this relation, the source and conser'
vator Of all the substantial interests OF time
and eternity, and rouse an influential control
through our legislative, JUDICIAL and ecclesas.
tical authority. But must at least instruct
you, brethren of the clergy, to exercise vigi-
lance Of inquiry and devout respect for its dl::
vine significance in every case Of marriage
coming before you. If the world degrades
the contract into a mere civil trasaction, you
must never forget that in your own hands it
lis the office OF holy matrimony, deep toned
lin its sacramental character, where every
charge and prayer is from the conviction OF
Christian faith. Its solemn VOWS are God
ward, and the churce pronounces over those
clasped hands, those whom God hath Joined
/ together let no inansput asuhder. -
| Exaro;sa a d;scration Incoming yOur holy