New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-14
ORGANIZE AGAINST DlVORCE.

The meeting of the New-England Divorce
Reform League in Philadelphia, in connection
With the Episcopal Convention, has brought out
some startling statistics Of divorces of the same
character as those given few days ago in TIE
TRIBUNE. The growth in the number Of di-
yorces in New-York City, reaching probably
this wear 400, is attributed to the decision OF
the Court of Appeals recognizing as valid the
marriages of persons who, after being dl-
vOrced in this State under n prohibition
TO marry again, have crossed the line into
New-Jersey or Pennsylvania and have
been married there. But the growth In
other States. due both to laws of Il greater lax
ity than we have had here AMI to demoralHed
public sentiment, is surprising also. Mr.. Dlke,
the Vermont clergyman who has been collect
ing the statistics of divorce, says thG the num-
Der has doubled in the last twenty-five or thirty
wears in the Northern States. -Four of the New
England States show an increase OF lOO per
cent from 1850 to 1873. In Maine, Rhode
Island and New Hampshire, one out Of every
ten marriages, in late years, has ended In di-
vorce. Philadelphia shows an increase in di-
vorces of nearly 500 per cent in twenty years,
with an increase in population Of GG per cent.
teen marriages; Chicago one to thirteen, ana
the same in Louisville. The country owes an
apology to Chicago, 1t seems. The Iatlo OF
divorces there is not pre-eminent San Fran
cisco stands at the head of the cities, the ratio
of divorces to marriages there last year being
as one to five and eght-tenths.
The New England Divorce Reform League is
body of about sixty persons Of all denomina-
tons, among whom Mr.. Dixie seems TO be the
leading spirit 1t seeks to unite both Protcs-
tants and Catholics in the work Of arOusing pub
lie sentiment to this growing evil, winch weak
ems the very foundations of society Why
should not clergymeu and all others interested
in this question form similar organizations
throughout the country There is plenty Of
work of a practical kind for them to do. In
this State they could bring about the passage
Of a law meeting the situation created by the
decision of the Court of Appeals, so that these
cross .the-border marriages shall not he recog-
nized in this State. In every State such organi-
cations could do Inuch good by stimulating the
cergymen to more careful examination oil
persons who ask to ne married, ana leading
them to take a Steiner moral ground upon this
subject than many Of them DO now. One Of
the objects of the New England League is to
induce clergymen of all churches to refuse to
marry divorced persons, with the single ex-
ception allowed by the Episcopal canon. The
power the clergy can exert upon this question
can hardly be overestimated. The influence Of
society is often stronger than that Of law, and
If divorces are numerous, it is because society
toleratcs what the law permits. Such organiza-
tons in the various States could also bring
their influence to bear upon t. Legislatures to
reduce the number of causes for which divorce
can le granted, AN action which will always be
followed, as it was in Connecticut five years
ago, by a marked decrease in the number Of
1i HOrCcs