Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-16

The perennial discussion Of the question
Of divorce has Just received new impetus
from a rcCcLt and widely circulated lecture
by Rev. DR.. Dix, the famous rector of Trim
ity church. As the basis Of his argument,
Rev. Dr. Dix quotes statistics showing the
rapid increase IN the number of divorces,
particularly in New England, where the rec
ords are better kept and more trustworthy
than elsewhere, which, familiar though they
are, may he worth quoting. For instance
in 1873 there were in Maine, AIS divorces :
in New Hampshire, cal; in Vermont, 1877 ;
in Massachusetts, 600; in Connecticut 40l ;
and in Rhode Island, 19G-making total of
2l13. On the basis of population by the
present census, there was l divorce to every
1857 inhabitants in Maine; in n lew lIamp-
shire, to 1889 in Vermont, to 1857 in
Massachuset s, to 297l in Connecticut, l
to 1853, and in Rhode Island, ! to 1141. 1t
the Roman Catholic Church permits no
divorce, and consequently the Catholic popu-
lation should be subtractel from the total to
ascertain the exact condition of things. The
causes for which divorces can be obtained
have increased in the New England States
from five in 1860 10 nine in 1876 1t is csti-
mated that among the on-Calhoiic popula-
ton in Massachusetts the ratio of divorces to
marriages is one to fourteen, and in Connec-
ticut it is one to eight
Dr. Dix attributes TO this facility of obtain
ing divorces the marked increase of social
vice, Of crimes against chastity, and ''loath-
some, Infamous, nameess crimes" Aud he
says. Looseness of legislation has sug-
gcsted and increased loosencss of living dis.
moved the plea that sins against chastity
u..nish if the law regulating mar.
made less severe" 1t is moi
Jurce il is not the dvorc,
5 person whose life il
withdraw from bruta
Artncr, that makes mischief
Ia ,.rorcc with the privilege of marrying
aga4; divorce which absolutely separates
the married, destroys the home and throws
the road open to other allianccs--tbat is The
abomination which we have to deal with to
day PROFESSIONALLY that is the point aim
ed at that divorce for any cause Shall car
ry with it freedom to marry again and tina
the causes for which divorce may be obtain
ed shall be made SO numerous that any mar
ried couple may easily be parted under pro
lection Of the law" And DR.. Dix denOunceS
this species of divorce in the strongest terms
II is sweeping US as people to the socia
and moral level Of Mormondom, the sole diff
ference being that Mormon polygamy is sim
ulaneous, while ovs is consecutive. eth
Mormon can have as many wives as he cal
maintain the skilful divorcer can also hay,
many, only not all at once, but one aite
another, as iust as he Can decently or indie
Gently make the desired changes. Under sue
system there would be no more wives
strictly so-cacd, but the wrctched creature
in their degradation would be simply regis
tered concubnes."
This system DR.. Dix attributes 10 the nc
ton that marriage is merely civil contrac
which can be dissolved by the civil author
ties at the will of the contracting parties
theory which robs marriage of its sacrednes
and destroys the foundations of home. 1t ais
results in part from the religious hercsies @
which our time is SO prolific, And the onl