New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-22
MR.. BEECHER ON MARRIAGE AND DI
VORCE.

The following editorial, entitled "The
Christian Law Of Marriage" from The Christian Union,
and understood to be from Mr. Beechers pen derives
especial interest from the fact that 1t appeared ut the
time when Mr.. Beecher being severely criticised In
certain quarters for officiating at the deathbed mar
rage of Albert D. Richardson and Mrs. Mcfarland, and
within the term during which, according to Tton, he
was guilty of criminal relations with Mrs Tllton
From IN. Christian Union Dee IL. 1869.
That Christ taught spiritual religion IMAM Moses
appears in many recorded by the Eyangeliss in
which Cbrists ideas came into open conflict with the
holiness nearer God and harder of attainment to
man. The Christian law of marriage, which was dely-
cred in the the mount is signal illustration
Of the superior spirituality OF Christianity said the
Divine Teacher as his words are given by MATHEW attn ,
commit .q OK m D l y. S hath .on sSG Gae a
already h heart And thy right offend thee pluck
out and cast rom thee Tor Is PSnIS ior oo 1 one s u
thy band odend thee it Of and east from thee
Inv whole body should into hell 1t hath been sad
shall put his wife. let him give her writing Of
enforcement" eui rF - bat say unto oa that whosoeye shall
pat away h. w saving oI The cause OF fsas ner
these words are blazing with the purity and penetra
ton Of heaven. They shine ana pierce Ike the very eye
OF God Under their Influence we are convinced that
sin thing OF the heart mot necessarily OF the wilD
aud that mastery Of passions by their crucixion.
be- essential condition OF Christness, and
that Chrstliness In itself is well worthy OF the sacrifice
The far more than cOnpensates for tho cross.
Then the divine idea OF marriage which is indis
soluble till death, except for one single cause and, in
this case. be it remembered on the ground that the
threatens the world with the subverson OF the
holy institution, aud all the horrors OF unbided lust
Adnerers the mortal enemies of Christian marriage
TO he treated rs unworthy of the relation Divorce
adultery is retbuion for sin, and shows at once the
divine sense OF the siney 81 marriage; ana tne dgina
Himself is love and the love that makes true mar
riage il divine.
The Jewish teachers had heard that Jesus taught with
authority and not the scribes. so they made test
marrageprobaby because they felt that there was
higher doctrine OF 1t than that which was taught by
Moses The scene Is graphic and the words are memor
able: 49,,
Is lawful for puiAway his wife for every cause
Ana @ s aa Hn mSd ie m S d @ and @
shall father moef and sha eeave to
ore twain What therefore God hath joined together
eom&snG 10 give Writing Of enforcement a pat awa7
b rno them Moef because Of the harines your hearts Suffered
Won TO put away wives And
uuto hal pat away his wife except It BE- for o
cation and shall marry another commiie9 aae and whose mar
meth he that is pat away doth commit 1daie Ms DISCIPLES say unto
Bat be said them All cannot receive this saying save they to
The disciples felt that this the higher law 1t
too HI gh them II demanded more than they were
az which the divine beauty o! Christs idea of marriage
is dscernble II the case Of the MAJ be so with his
wife, said hey cit is not good 10 marry" What Is he
TO do who finds his tempered instead Of sweet,
silly instead OF fascinating extrayagant instead OF
fruitful old and faded instead OF young and fart Nav
he to be her husband aud marry again Not
changed her condition They two are flesh. AS long
from the crime of adultery God holds her
ence to the woman. But society also has its claims.
And all laws that lie at the foundation of the real
progress Which the world has made, and Of which IL Is
capable, lies deeper has more dependent upon
A. than the Christian marriage. The divine ideal OF
man. of woman. and of home. with all Its inestimaOlc
relations Is involved IN Cnrst'5 idea OF marriage
But the Savior gniZed woman q separate aud
equal agent in marriage and divorce. He reminded his
qestioners older law than that of uoses:he law
Of creation. $50 God created man in his Own image in
the image OF God created he him; male and female
ated them" Christ, therefore, held the woman
ONLY amenable to his law OF marriage, but also
petent enforce IT, If it were needTu, against her hu
band.
We learn in Mark that after no had answered the
Pharlsees his disciples asked him again OF the same
matter in the house, ana then he thus reversed the po
eItion, of me two actors: II woman shall put away
her husband, and be married TO another, she commit
tetu adultery"
right ask society to step between her and her
husband il his conduct is unbearable Tails Is another
thing from being Discontinued with her marriage relit
toa because she wants 10 marry another man. Her
husband may he crue! that her life Is embttered.
even in danger. He may be such profllgatc that
she cannot believe that II is her duty to live his
company. He may be such spendthrift that she Is
deprived of the Decesaries OF life Tor herself and her
children. Some nave carried such crosses
TO the gate OF heaven. But they should do II OF
their own cnoce-not by legal compulsion. The scpara
tons which the courts grant are, therefore, allow
able. But they Should not-indeed they cannot-annul
the marriage Of the two persons. Neither is free
marry again while the other Is living. Separation IL
thing, divorce another. TINS, as We understand
II, Is the Christian law OF marriage.
IL need not be expected that society will live up
this standard for society does not accept Christ its
leader But the most protigate would estate to
lower forever the Christian idea OF this relation Tney
see something OF its beauty aud import although they
resist ITS influence Surely the Church OF Christ should
glory in maintaining 1t.