The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-09
The Case of a Methodist Friend.

The case Of young man in Boston, who
writes to us as follows, Is worthy OF very
serious attention:
"siR: would IKE TO ASK through your oolumns one
question. I am young man 70 years Of age. Ihsve
boon keeping company with young lady % years of
for about nine months. Five months ago Joined
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Tho question wish
to ask is this: Four years ago this young lady was
married TO who treated her so badly that In six
months she had TO leave him. and applied for divorce,
which granted. Now in reading my Bible, md in
Matthew, chap verse 81 also Mark chap TO- and the
rs twelve verses also In other places In CnRisrs teach
ings that divorced wife is forbidden to marry again
while the husband Is living As am very much at
tach TO the young lady and s want TO he true to
creed and honorable to her. at a loss how to act
WIN you please give me your advice, and oblge
80. O. W."
BY the laws of Massachusetts, where the
two reside, undoubtedly the woman Is en-
titled to marry again II her divorce was
properly obtained. Our correspondent can
make her his legal wife.
But can the two be united In wedlock with
out dlsobeying the commands Of CHRIST 2
That is a very different matter. The present
divorce laws OF Massachusetts, and Of New
England generally were not framed in ac-
eordanoe with the teachings OF Christianity
riage is contract which may be broken by
the misbehavior Of ono or the other Of the
parties to it. IL that improper conduct shall
be satisfactorily proved before Judge. The
marriage may be dissolved not only because
Of adultery, but aso on account Of abandon
mcnt, and for various other causes.
1t seems that very many people In
New England, both men and women, are
glad to take advantage OF the divorce laws to
throw off marriage bonds, without caring
whether the laws are In accordance with
Christian precepts or not They are eager
DO escape from coniugal yoke under which
| they chafe; to be rid Of obligations to hus-
| bands who treat them Ill or abandon them; or
to put away wives with whom they cannot
live peaceably. Very often, perhaps gener-
| ally, they are anxious TO separate from their
mates in order that they may be happy with
new ones. The divorced are more likely to
marry than any other class Of people, II they
can get the chance. They therefore have not
acquired a distaste for matrimony because OF
hardships suffered in married life.
But what does the CHRIST say In regard to
divorce and marriage? We quote the pas
sages from the Gospels OF MATTHEW and
MARK to which our correspondent refers:
But say unto you, that whosoever shall put away
his wife saving for the OF fornc causeth her
to commit adultery and whosoever shah marry her that
| IL divorced committeth adultery."-Matt s: "a
"And lie saith unto them, whatsoever shall put away
his wife and marry another commtteh adultery against
her And woman shall put away her husband and be
married another she committed adultery Lake 10
| II, II.
There Is no mistaking the meaning Of this
language. The simplest man can understand
1t as well az the most learned. The teachings
OF JESUS CHRIST are in direct opposition to
the divorce laws Of Massachusetts,. No
faithful Christian can take advantage OF
those laws, with the words Of CHRIST 50 clear
and so positive before him.
Freedom Of divorce Is undoubtedly OPP
posed to Christianity. The marriage of the
woman divorced is also expressly stigmatized
by CHRIST as adulterous in the passages
above quoted. Our young Methodist friend
in Boston cannot obey the commands OF
CHRIST and marry his sweetheart also.
Yet we do not deny that very many men
who call themselves Christians would not
hesitate to wed her In spite OF the words
which are stumbling block for him. Genu-
inc Christians are not very numerous in
these days. Even ministers of the Gospel
| will explain away the words OF CHRIST.