Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-02
MGR. cAPEL ON DIVORCE.


Too much Freedom AiloWed-Wo'
men Intended for natrimony.
Monsignor Capel was greeted with an au'
dience Of 1850 people as he stepped on the
stage of the Academy of Music last even
ing, says the Philadelphia Record, TO leo
turs upon the subject Of "Divorce."
Placing his hat on the desk before him
and gently throwing back from the shout
der the folds Of the red cloak he wore,
Monsignor Capel entered upon his
his subject. He ssid he had
spoken on the subject of divorce
before, but while the principles which ne
enunciated were always tho same. he tried
to present them u his audiences in differ
emit dresses. He declared that divorce is
one of the problems worthy Of earnest con.
,ioera,ion connected with the life OF
every nation and every family. He de-
clsrsd his reason for speaking SO fIequADt-
ly On the subject to te desire TO Cast his
lot with those thinking people In the lana
who have become alarmed St the terribly
rapid increase If divorce, and aid in the
work of upr0oting the evil.
MonsignOr Cupel said that history wolid
substanliate him in asserting that the
strength OF every country has been great
est hen the marriage tie was most sA'
credly observed; and that COuntry's de-
cav could be traced from the time 1t al.
lowed lax principles in the marriage rsla-
ticn. He cited the example of Rome, where
the principle of divorce was admitted from
the foundation Of the republic, but where
no man ever ayailed himself OF the privi-
lcge till 523 years had passed away. Mon
sipnor Cspsl declared that there will be
repetition Of the dissraceful history OF RI
man decay IN any country that allo di-
vUTCe to sap its vItals
The speaker then proceeded to consider
lie COL sequences OF Ciyolce, which he de-
clsred TO be the degradation OF woman, the
Obstruction of the home and the perver'
sion of the tho lights Of Gcn. He admit
ed that men ard women are often unhap-
pity married, bUa this circumstance he
considered unimportsnt in comparison
with the evil resulting from divorce.
Fer tuch people Monsignor Capel could
uuIy offer thc bam OF Christian
res.gration to their hardships, both
man and vile struggling to bear
their burdens lightly and live together for
he good OF their Chiltren when that Is
rossitle. But, when this cannot be done,
The only Christian course left is to sepa.
rate. each living spsrt from the other, but
bonds. Admit Dut the thought that di.
yOrce is possible, that only S formality OF
lIw interveues between misery with one
peIscn and happiness with another, and 1t
will impossible for husband and wife TO
nass over the rough places Of life toge her.
Mcpsiguor Cspel declared the home
xith father, mother and children - be
the end of all true marriages; that our
greatest men have bsen reared under home
influences, and our nObie>t women mould
ed to nobility under the same guidance;
that without the home there Is destruc-
lion OF the principal OF education with no
moral or religious training for the young,
and that is the struggle following divorce,
woman always goes 10 the wal! tue Stigma
falls urOn her daughter.
The Monsignor next considered whether
il is lawful or Legitimate TO permit d.
vorce, and quoted from the Apostles that
there is divine prohibition against divorce;
that it is against the word OF the Bible for
6 husband or wife TO marry during the
lifetime Of the other no matter what may
Re the cause OF separation, and that there
is no power on earth which can put man
or woman back TO their position before
marriage, or grant divorce. He declared
that divorce was introduced by the refor-
nation, aud that it is contr,ry to Chris
l'hu bSdSulIb obN sAAN AZ W. - NAAN
Church.
In speaking on what is to be done to
stem the current against divorce, Mon.
signor Capel gave few telling hits on
American social customs. 1t appeared to
him that our growing civilization has per.
mitted the existence of wild theories
about education and social relations. The
American youth boasted OF their indie
pendence and laughed at the restrictions
put or the children OF European coun-
tries. But the speaker thought American
human nature is mDch the same as
English, French or Italian human
nature and that American boys and
girls aye much the same in their innate
tendencies after evil as English, French or
Spanish boys and girls. Experience had
taught parents in the latter counties how
it is best 20 rear their children, and he
thought it folly TO ignore this experience
He had little appreciation OF thu sources
from where young people obtain their ideas
about matrimony, declaring the main
channels to be the literature Of worthless
novels, rubbish acted on the stage and the
words Of yourg married people who have
not yet experienced the crosses Of life. II
these could be eliminated and more
healthy surroundings thrown about the
young, great point would be gisned.