Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-20

The Congregationalists in their recent Bur
lington convention discussed the question of
divorce The committee to whom the matter
was referred, in making their report, declar-
ed themselves Convinced by investigation
that divorce legislation in this, as in other
New England States rests upon an unsound
ethical basis that in its practical working
it is prejudicial to domestic and public NOR
atty that it cannot be endorsed by healthy
Christian community. They wish thankful
ly to recognize indications of some good re-
suits from agitation of the question during
the past year, recall with especial satisfaction
the judicious suggestions concerning it, made
by his Excelency the Governor, in his inau-
gural message, and gladly acknowledge some
improvements in divorce legislation by the
last legislature. But in the increasing fire.
quency of divorce for inadequate causes in
past years they discover the evidence of too
great indifference to the subject on the part
of the Christian public, or MISREPRESENTATION
of or indifference to the attitude of the Chris
tian churches ON the part of the Legislative
and judicial authorities"
Among the resolutions submitted by the
committee were the following:
"ReSOIUed, That inasmuch as we recognize
but one ground of divorce as supported by
the authority of Christ, we regard the legal
or religious sanction of any cause of divorce
other than this, as patronage of immortality.
ReSot0ed, That we regard the re-marriage
to other PERSONS of persons divorced save
for cause of adultery, as without sanction of
Christian morality and those who oficiate in
the re-marriage of parties thus divorced as
patrons of their wrong.
These resolutions, however, proved too
strong for adoption by the convention, and
the resolutions as finally adopted read as fol-
lows;
Resolced, That we regard the family insti-
tuition as divine appointment, and as the
foundation of public virtue and order.
ReS0l0ed, That we regard moral and re-
ligious sanction as essential to the preserva-
ton of its purity and integrity, and cores
pondence between its legal and its moral and
religious sanction as necessary to the welfare
of society.
ResOloed, That inasmuch as we recognize
| but one ground of absolute divorce Gas dis
unguished from legal separation or limited
divorced as supported by the authority of
| Christ we regard the legal or religious sane
ton of any cause of divorce other than this
as patronage of immortality.
ReS0lced, That we regard the remarriage to
other persons of parties divorced save for
cause of adultery, as without sanction OF
Christian morality and recognize the necessi.
ty of great care, especially ON the part OF
Christian minister's against lending sanction
to such wrong by performing marriage ser
vice for parties thus divorced.
Res0loed That we regard the increasing
frequency of divorce in this State for causel
inadequate and unsupported by Christian
morality, as great evil, damaging the wei
fare of the family and of society.
ResOlCed, That we earnestly request tn,
members of our churches TO use their inhu
ence as Christian citizens, by discussion, by
petitions, by whatever legitimate methods, t
secure such reform in legislation as shall
place our marriage laws upon Christian
foundation.
ResOlC6d, That we earnestly invite the re
newed attention of the members of GU
churches to the Christian doctrine of the fam
lily to its importance in relation to many o
the social and political questions that agitat
our time, and to the future welfare of on
churches, That We also direct attention :
the need of more widely dfused literatur
of the subject, and more thorough and frt
} quent presentation of ii from the pulpit.