The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-12
what is the Matter with New England &,

What is the Matter with New England
Tho startling frequency Of divorce In Mas
sachusetts has Of late provoked much dis
cussion. Not long after Judge LORD Ice
tured the Cape Cod people on their loose mo-
tions regarding the obligations OF marriage.
an officer of one of tho State courts at Bos-
ton came forward with the declaration that
there too, the number OF divorce cases was
on the increase, 80 that suits for the dis
solution Of marriage moro than made up
for the loss of legal business caused by the
repeal Of the Bankruptcy act.
But it now appears that, common as di-
vorce is in Massachusetts,, it Is not so fire.
quent as in the other New England States.
The New Haven journal finds that the ratio
OF divorce TO marriage has been as follows
during the last few years In four OF the New
England States Vermont, to 16; Massa-
chusetts, TO 1877; Rhode Island, 1 TO 10;
Connecticut, 1 TO 10A. II Maine and New
Hampshire have like divorce record, the
number OF couples in the New England
States who make shpwreck Of matrimony
must be not far from 800 annually.
These are figures to make people think
very seriously. SO great n proportion Of
divorces indicates both q surprising laxity
Of morals and n prevalence OF skeptical
ideas regarding the solomnity OF marriage
in the land OF steady habits. We used TO
look to the newer communities OF the West
for such a state OF society; but now we find
il in the home Of the Purtans, and among
their descendants especially.
Moreover this remarkable record OF d.
vorce, which puts the States named among
those Of the world where marriage is least
permanent and Of least binding force-a
record which has few parallels in history
is only one Of several symptoms Of moral
decline in New England, or OF n disposition
TO chafe under the religious and conven-
tional restraints which the Puritan fore
fathers deemed essential TO the well being
Of society. The reports from the New Eng
land villages show that church going is
falling into disusc; that while the Irish and
French Canadian Catholics are punctual in
their attendance at mass, the native Prot
estants are frequently found altogether in
different to religious services or only occa-
sional in their attendance on them.
The prayer meetings, which Of old were
deemed so important, are Stunned by the
younger generation, and immortality OF a
pretty gross sort crops out in the rural COM
munities, which have not yet found safe
substitute for church going. As for Boston,
it is filled with unbeliovers, who take pride
in their doubts, and regard attendance upon
church as a relic Of superstition. The Uni
tarians, who are so numerous there and
elsewhere in the State OF Massachusetts,.
are oftentimes only agreed in their points OF
unbelief At Harvard College, though good
old DIR. PEABODY lays down a sound morality
and talks of practical religion, there is little
real religious sentiment OF any sort among
the professors and the students. And as to
Yale College, what can DO expected OF it
with Beecherism rampant at its head
What is the meaning Of this strange state
into which the descendants of tho Puritans
have got themselves