The Indianapolis journal., 1883-10-31
TIE PREVALENCE OF DIVORCE.

the ecclesiastical authority OF the Roman
Church, which recognizes no sufficient ground
for marital enforcement, and the laxity of
some of our State laws, that put no bound
ary about this thing, there ought to be, and
doubtless is, some point where all can
meet and join in working the
needed reform. While the inflexible rule OF
the Vatican is vastly superior to the unob-
structed traffic in divorces, it is generally
conceded that there should be some .offenses
for which the party sinned against may OBJ
tain divorce Human endurance has its
limits, beyond which human laws are not
disposed to force anybody. The evil of un-
bounded grounds for divorce is apparent to
all. 1t seems to be growing, and the rever-
ence for the marriage relation appears to be
waning. The ultimate danger is evident and
to avert this is the desire of every citizen
who loves good order and who believes in the
sanctity of home
The foundation of home in all Christian
lied and civilized countries is marriage An
adequate appreciation of the solemnity of
such an arrangement and the sacredness of
the pledges made and received, is absolutely
essential to the preservation of the relation
ship of husband and wife. 1t would seem
that if there be any sense of honor among
men il should find it's highest development
here. The man and woman who marry take
upon themselves the most sacred obligations
| and titI;;pS In otbnr tranSaotiOp "a
man OF honor and the woman of char
acter would scorn to seek to escape
the consequences of their self-sought
and voluntary agreement OF all contracts
made for time that of marriage is most sacred.
IL is of graver importance, and the forerun-
ner of more serious consequences than any
| other that can be entered into. Man and
woman, the two great agents appointed of
God to do a certain work. mutually pledge
themselves to jointly undertake it. Either
alone is helpless. Together the will of the
Creator is made possible. Marriage is evil
IDENTITY of divine origin, and, as such, must
command most solemn reverence. 1t is
more than a civil contract Its results are
immortal and its influence for good or evil
is unbounded.
1t is time that mankind lay aside all false
delicacy and look at this matter as it stands
i'll truth Marriage means more than SEN
suality, more than physical comfort, more
even than a home. The house is but the
conservatory of marriage and its legitimate
! fl,o Low, e bo ~ J;eoo
ored, husband and wife must be more than
husband ard wife To mature the
| children born in honorable wedlock.
more than to afford a refuge for the
husband and wife, is the object of home.
AS the nursery for children, home is the cit
adel of the nations strength. AS it is main
tanned inviolate as its purpose is carried out,
will the stability and purity of society at
large be preserved. Here is the true school
of morals. If personal purity be taught here,
if love of truth be inculcated, and all the
virtues be taught while the mind is yet pill
ant and susceptible, the good effects will be
felt through all time. Our public or select
schools may teach the sciences may polish
the intellect and develop the mental qualities
of the rising generation, but nowhere except
at home can the moral elements of youth be
so we'll cultivated Here, under the eye OF
the mother who bore them, they will grow
in the graces symmetrieally. All that is
good will be encouraged, while the evil is re-
pressed and corrected.
| Anything that comes in TO disrupt and de-
strov the homes of nation threatens the ex-
istence of all that is desirable and good. If
we are to have virtuous people, strong
in body because clean in personal
habits. they must come from clean
homes-from parents mindful of their
obligations to their children and
to society. Home is the cradle OF virtue.
Fire nor flood can destroy it, Death and
divorce are the only enemies that can enter
and desolate. The former can not be warded
off The latter may be checked and reduced
/ to the minimum.
| 1t is paradox that so many who are in
vncible in honor at every other point fail in
their Obligations so solemnly assumed at the
marriage altar In matters of money. in
contracts that may be disastrous and
filed only at heavy pecuniary
loss If not actual bankruptcy,
most men are honest and conscientious. 1t
is to degree humiliating to witness the fa-
cility with which man and woman pledge a
| lifelong fidelity. and afterwards dishonor
! the contract as matter of little moment. To
say that there is not good ground in one of
ten divorces now granted would, perhaps be
! q conservative estimate. There should be