The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-10
The Church and the Family.

| Though addressed specifically to the Episco-
pal clergy and laity OF the diocese Of Long
Island, the last triennial charge OF Bishop
LrrTLEJoHN Is Of general interest," be-
cause 1t Is devoted to discussion of great
social questions which are now engaging
the public thought. The subject of the charge
Is, Tho Church's Duty to the Family" and
the treatment OF 1t leads the Bishop to the
expression OF his views concerning educa-
| ton, marriage, and divorce, the proper
| sphere Of woman, and the influence on re-
| liglon nnd morals Of prevalent social theo-
ries and aaitations.
He starts out by denounclng the notion
that the individual is the unit of society.
In his opinion. that false assumption ls re-
sponsibe for many Of tho social evils from
which we are now suffering. The logical con-
sequence Of this indlvidualism. says Bishop
L1rrLEJOHN, Is social dlsintegration and
political anarchy, and accordingly, he OPP
poses to 1t what no holds to DO the true and
Christian theory, that not the individual. but
the family, Is the unit Of society.
Tho preservation and protection OF the
family he regards as the peculiar duty OF tho
Church, which is especially called on at this
timo to guard the sanctities Of the home
because they are SO seriously threatened by
present secular influences. "The family"
he continues, "has OF late been drifting into
position Of inicrlority among the greater
forces Of modern life," and more rapidly
than most people suspect is the Individual
ism of the hour sapping the family as GODS
ordinance, and resolving 1t, In tho popular
estimate, into mans contrivance."
In proof OF this no refers, first, to tho In
creasing laxity In regard to marriage and
divorce. In States where VIC would expect
to find society best ordered, and Its in
terests most carefully watched ,rces have
doubled In thirty years in pl ,p.. lion to mar
riagcs and population. Those States, too.
are the ones "in whose habits OF thought
and conducts In religion and politics the spirit
OF individualism has been most apparent"
That is, the divorce rate is highest In New
England and In parts OF the country settled
by New England people.
Meantime, besides multiplying the causes
for divorce, md disregarhing tho sanctity OF
marriage as divine institution, tho civil
authority, in his opinion. Is further uproot-
ing tho family by changing the laws with
reference to the property rights OF married
women. Practically" says the Bishop,
1--WE have reached a point where the wife
may cease to have property interests In COM
mon with her husband-may control abso-
lutely her own means OF living, and deter
mine for herself the scale OF expenditures
that will suit her tastes or her caprlces."
Tho man Is no longer the head OF the house.
hold the husband. 1t has been made ian
open question whether the man or his wife
will fulfil that Junction." and "a community
OF interests, with the recognized authority
Of tho husband to rule the wife, and tho
recognized duty of the vito to obey that au.
thority, Is no longer deemed expedient or
necessary" This rebellion against the old
view Of marriage Is SO strong that In many
cases tho word obey" is omitted from tho
marriage service.
Again, certain popular theories Of female
education seem to the Bishop to be subvert-
ing tho family and the home. In the first
place, thcre is tho coeducatiOn OF the soxes,
under which boys and girls are subjected to
tho same discipline Of mind and character.
and consequently are taught "to estimate
from the Same standpoint the relations and
duties Of life" Such education, and tho "higher
feminine education" so much advocated now
adays, he holds to he counter to tho laws OF
COB and the'teachings of Christianity The
result he finds to be tho production OF ex-
tremcly offensive types Of feminine character.
"bold and brassy manners" "a preference
for rights over duties," "a calculating esti-
mate Of marriage that coolly balances the pros
and cons Of private qualification" "a wide
spread Reputation OF the duties and cares of
maternity" and other evils at which he looks
| with pain and horror.
So fostered and encouraged, lndivduallsm
resents the restraints and the authority of
| tho Church. Men and women consider 1t their
"indefeasible right to believe as much or as
little as they please, to arrange their own
church fellowships," and refuse to recognize
tho dignity and authority OF the sacred min.
istry. Denying authority In the Church,
they deny authority In the family 1.-THE
transition Is easy" says tho Bishop from
heresy in doctrine to heresy In morals, from
schism In the Church to schism In tho family
and In the State" Under such circumstan-
ces, instead Of wondering that so many FAM
lilies arc broken up, the Bishop rather won
ders that tho average family has held to-
gether at all."
1t Is to the Church that We must look for
redress and reformation, contends Bishop
LIrTLEJoHN. and to perform that duty, so
imperative In tho present emergency, the
Church must retrace "the steps taken by 1t,
In sympathy with the spirit OF the time,
toward relieving tho family OF Its moral and
religious responsibilities to the children born
within it." That is, the Church must enforce
religious training In tho home. instead OF re-
lieving tho family of that first duty. as 1t
has been doing. Tho Church has SO far
absorbed into itself thew work OF tho family as
an educator that lit is raro to find house.
hold In which any formal, connected instruc-
ton In religion and morality is attempted.
The family clothes and feels and shelters,
and cares fort growth OF bono and muscle
the state school and the Sunday school care
for the rest"
Again, tho Church must strictly enforce
h0r doctrines as to marriage and divorce