Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-06

brief parenthess, as 1t were after the word ''es-
miss, that this much, dism;ssipg ones wife, is al
lowed in the case of adultery. The text of St Matthew
If viewed alone, would suggest some obscurity OF
meaning. Side by side with the other passages of
the New Testament on the same matter 1t becomes
clearer and in presence of the teaching of the
church. the divnely Commissioned interpreter of the
law all uncertainty disappe The decision OF the
court does not cnange the law or create new law;
it only declares officially what the law in reality al
ways had been.
st. Luke is as explicit as ST.. Mark: ''Every oue'
that putteth away his wife and marrieth another
commtteth adultery, and he that narrieth her that
Ia put away from her husband commteth adul-
tery.H
st Paul does not report words as coming from
Christ But he taught the doctrine of Christ, as 1t
was received in the early church and propounded by
the first aposes and he teaches US not only the In
dssolubiHty of marriage, but also the grandeur
which invests it in the Christian dispensatlon Death
alone breaks the matrimonial yoke. "The woman
that hath husband he says In the Episte 20 the
Romans, whilst her hus band liveh is bound to the
law: but If her husband be dead she Is loosed from
the law Of her husband" $40 them that are mar
ried he writes to the Corinthians; "not 1 but the
Lord commandeh, that the wife depart not from her
husband; and if she depart, that she remain unmar-
ried, or be reconcied TO her husband. And let not
the husband put away his wife,"
In the episle to the Ephesians, the marriage bond
between husband snd wife symbolizes the union OF
Christ with bis church Here is 8 special dignity
inherng to the Christian marriage "For this cause
shall a leave his father and mother, and shall
adhere to his wife, and they shat be two in one
u
Christ and in the church :" The union of Christ
with his church is indssoluble; so, left to in
fer, must be the union of husband with wife, Christ
and his church presented models for husband
and wife in the fulfnent of their reciprocal Duties
how the burthens of married life become light when
borne in imitation of such models! Husbands,
love wives, Christ also Low sd the church, de-
liverng himself up for itu GAS the church is SUBJ
ject to Christ also let wives be to their husbands
When to these words of st. Paul add the further
teaching of the church. that the marriage rite is o
adj 1iric Of uhi
ly holy and venerable ceremony, but confers upon
the souls of husband and wife sanctfy grace, and
prepares them to bear with one anohers faults dur
ing life, and to bring up their children wOrtbly,
understand how far removed above the level OF mere
human CO ltracts marriage placed and bow sacre-
hgious becomes the attempt of human law to pull
down to earth amid bargainings, which human inter-
ests and passions sway contract 80 sacred in the
eyes of God that he has declared himself the exclu
sive iawmaker over it, and has sanctioned it with
his own seal.
THE RESULTS OF DIVORCE.
The law of Christ on thr indissoubility of the
marriage tie is based upon the purposes for which
marriage has been instituted. It is in full harmony
with the requirements of the family and of society at
large. Marriage exists that man and woman may
afford to each other through life mutual help, and
may bring up children in the practice of the virtues
that fit them for their dues citizens of earth and
heirs of heaven. Pelmit to husbanc7 and wives
separations and alliances, and the purposes of
or old age approaches love and help most need
ed, and in such moments most likely will separation
be threatened. The most exposed to suffer will
be the wife, to whom help and affection are most ne
cessary. When youth and beauty we're her portion,
and suitors for her hand and heart were not Distant
she linked her destnies to who in retutl prom
ised love and allegiance Now the road before her
is dark and dreary; her charms have disappeared in
her laborous efforts to make life happy for him few
the strangers who will do her honor and now she is
dismissed to make place for another, who echpses
And 0f
the children born in wedock when divorce is pro-
nounced? 1t is natures command that father and
mother bestow upon them joint care, the one lend
ing her loving heart, the other his strong
arm. When death strikes father or mother
We know what evil days daNl for the or
| phaned offspring, and how deep shadows
are cast their future pathway. And viii caprice
and passion be allowed to nflct injuries which we
can scarsely forgive 10 cssth? What reverence will
children of divorced couple retain for their
parents? Will thsy not be taught to hate either
or the other? What lessons do they receivs
| to restrain their own passions? viii that
| house be home for them when new alliances have
! been formed where strangers take the place Of
father and NEITHER who, they know yet live, and yet
must, psrforce, love them?
DUTY THE TIE THAT BINDS.
! Such, briefly, the evils of divorce and once you
assai the ndissoubility OF the marriage tie divorce
will frequently occu". In the absence of duty, what
is there to keep husband and wife together? There
remains, you will say, love. 1t is tickle sentiment
of the heart; it burns brightly at one moment and
ct another hickers family. When anslyzed, it Is
often egotlsn, ones own sensaality pleased with
the object which grahfes 1t. With decay 6
charms and eyer-ncreasing burthens, which the ad
vance of years and continued community of life
always bring forward, viii the mere sentiment sub
sist strong and ferveut? Will not the contact with
fresher charms suggest tediousness of the exist
ing yoke? Will not the fancy, to whose wanderings
duty imposes no barrier, picture happiness in other
alliances? The tempter, too, VII be near
by. If marriage were ndissou de, duty clos % the
ear to the SIRENS voice. Now it assumes
the language of innocence. divorce is suggested
possible, and under this plea passion is fostered.
We must not forget tbi5 mortal foe of marriage,
passion, must overlook Its strength. If
at all controlled it is when severe laws and the fear
of severe penalties press down upon it. The eternal
law of God iorbidding its qualification reduces it to
silence. But show IT road to escape free it from
the restraint of duty, if you still prohibit it il
the name of loyal love, gratitude, honor-you will
soon realize its power. 1t is this consideration that
forbds if marriage is to be maintained in its digni-
ty and sacredness, e" tamperng With its 'ndissolu-
bility.
LEGAL EXCUSES.
The civil law viii in vain specify the cases alone
authorizing divorce These cases. once the break is
made, will be Increased rapidly oven by the zi law.
State statutes usually the reflection of the hearts
of the men who make them, or for whom they are
made; and when no higher principle of morality is
acknowledged Oh given suUJSCt Guau tuo Vi
the law ITSELF the law viii be fashioned to throw the
mantle Of morality over passion The increase of
divorce among us. and the growth of legislation
granting bills of divorce for the most futile causes,
sustain ms in what I saying.
But let the causes permitting divorce
be fixed beyond recourse, le5 the causes,
too be few in number; he is ignorant of the
throbbings of the human heart who does not know
that passion will purposey produce these causes in
order to lead to its qualification. The annals of d.
vorce prove that even the most infamous Of
causes, conjugal indety, will be freely and deber
ately brought about to secure legal petn ssion to
form nav alliances.
ALWAYS WRONG.
The objection On social grounds to the doctrine of
the indissoubiity of marriage is that however much
We may deprecate the evils of divorce and oppose its
frequency cases to be found where the marriage
tie works great misery and for which relief should
be provided It s to purpose to admit or to deny
the existence OF such cases. They exceptional,
accidental cases. Laws and principles consider the
multitude, not the exception. There is no principle
in human government, which, in some accidental cir
cumstance does not sometime work hardship, but
the general good it is claimed, must prevail. Divorce
in any case is wrong, not SO much always for the
harm it works in that special case, for the harm
it works for the public, by opening the door to
other divorces Let divorce be jusfihable in one or
two cases, as I have said, the Will be pur-
posely made to exist, and cases will forcibly
be added to the list, Where SO much is