Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-04
MGR. CAPEL ON DIVORCE.
Saeredness of the Marriage Tie Up
heId-ToO Much Freedom Allowed
Women Intended for Matrimony.

Sacredness of the Marriage Tie Up
heId-ToO Much Freedom Allowed
Women Intended for Matrimony.
Monsignor Capel was greeted with an
audience of 1,500 people as he stepped on
the stage OF the Academy of Music last
evening, says the Philadelphia Record of
February I'd, to lecture upon the subject
OF divorce" Placing his hat on the desk
before him, and gently throwing back
from the shoulder the folds of the red
cloak he wore, Monsignor Capel entered
upon his subject. He said he had spoken
on the subject of divorce in other
cities, but while the PRINCIPLES
which he enunciated were ALWAYS the
same, he tried to present them to his audi
ences in different dresses. He declared
mat divorce is one of the problems worthy
OF earnest consideration connected with
tne lie OF every nation and every family.
he declared his reason for speaking so
frequently on the subject to be a desire TO
cast his lot with those thinking people in
the land who have become alarmed at the
terribly rapid increase in divorce, and aid
IN the work of uproOting the evil.
MonsignOr Capel said that history would
substantiate him in asserting that the
strength of every country has been great
est when the marriage tie was most sa-
credly observed; and that a country's
decay could be traced from the time it al
lowed lax principles in the marriage re-
latIon. He cited the example of Rome.
where the principle of divorce was ad-
mitted from the foundation of the republic.
but where no man ever aVailed himself of
the privilege till 523 years had passed
away. Monsignor Capel declared that
there VIII be repetition of the disgrace
tul history of Roman decay in any country
that allows divorce to sap its vitals.
The speaker then proceeded to consider
the consequences of divorce, which he de-
clared to be the degradation of woman.
the destruction of the home and the nar
version of the thoughts of men. He ad-
mltted That men and women are often un-
happily married, but this circumstance
ne considered unimportant in comparison
with the evil resulting from divorce. For
such people MOnsignor Capel could only
offer the balm of Christian resignation
to their hardships, both man and
wife struggling to bear their bur
dens lightly and live together for the
good of their children when that is pOssi-
ble. But. when this can not be done, the
only Christian course left is to separate.
each living apart from the other, but
never marrying till death has broken the
bonds. Admit but the thought that
divorce is possible, that only a formalitv
of law intervenes between misery with
one person and happiness with another.
and 1t Will be impossible for husband and
wife to pass over the rough places of life
together.
MonsignOr Capel declared the home
with father, mother and children to be the
end OF all true marriages; that our great
est men have been reared under home in
huences, and our nOblest women nodded
to nobility under the same guidance: that
without the home there is a destruction of
the principle OF education, with no moral
or religious training for the young. and
that in the struggle following divorce
woman always goes TO the wall, and the
stigma falls upon her daughter.
The MOnsignOr next considered whether
it is lawful or legitimate to permit divorce,
and quoted from the apostles that there
Is divine prohibition against divorce;
that 1t is against the word of the Bible for
a husband or wife to marry during the
lifetime Of the other, no matter what NAV
be 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 a divorce. He de-
clared that divorce was introduced by the
reformation, and that it is contrary to
Christian teaching and the laws of the
Catholic Church.
In speaking on what is to be done to
stem the current against divorce, Monsig-
nor Capel gave few telling hits on
American social customs. 1t appeared to
him that our growing civilization has per
mltted the existence of wild theories
about education and social relations. The
American youth boasted of their indie
pendence and laughed at the restrictions
put on the children of European countries.
But the speaker thought American hu-
man nature is much the same as English,
French or Italian human nature, and
that American boys and girls are much
the same IN their innate tendencies after
eVn as English, French or Spanish
boys and girls. Experience had taught
parents In the latter countries how it is
best to rear their children, and he thought
1t folly to ignore this experience. He had
little appreciation of the sources from
whence 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 young married people who have
not yet experienced the crosses of l'fe. If
these could be eliminated and more healthy
surroundings thrown about the young a
great point would be gained.
Monsignor Capel closed with an eXpla-
nation of the statement he was reported
to have made before a Washington au-
dlence, He said he thought 'seVery wo-
man ought to think twice before rejecting
an offer OF marriage. Women ought to be
married or they ought to be in religion;
Gods purpose is not for them to live the
life of an old maid. But it is better for
them to live as such than to marry for
wealth, social position or other reason
that is bound to lead TO misery -