The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-17
Tfte 8erald and Ne1vs,
& PUBLISHED
EVERY WEDNESDAY At
Vew5ea2.y, s. G.
The Church and tho Household-Wromg
Ideas Of Marriage and Neglect of
Moral Education
Ve1y5ea2,y, s. G.

The pastoral letter issued by the
House Of Bishops Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church at the close of the
Irlennial General Convention at
Chicago has been or will be read in
all tho churches Of that communion
throughout the United States. It's
principal subject is that OF the hris.
tian household as the unit OF social
organization and the basis Of public
virtue and security, connected with
which is the subject Of moral and re-
hglous education and the unity and
brotherhood Of mankind within the
church. One Of the leading portions
OF this eloquent pastoral is Of general
interest and is printed below.
That household religion and mo.
rality have changed, and are still
changing for the worse, is recognized
by all christian people as one of the
dark omens Of the time. The causes
are not far to seek. Two theories,
starting from opposite premises, but
but both alike the product Of the anti
christian and secular tendency of the
day, have ueen eating like moth and
rust into the domestic conscience, and
thus sapping the very foundations Of
home life. The one theory declares
the individual to be the supreme unit
Of society, and 80 demands for every
individual complete and equal free.
dom. 1t aflirms all discriminating
legislation based upon differences Of
sex to be degrading and tyrannical.
1t teaches that, as the only ground Of
marriage is the consent Of the con-
tracting parties, SO the continuance
of marriage is rightfully dependent
on the continuance Of mutual agree
ment. 1t declares that any other
view Of marriage converts it into the
worst bondage known to our law.
Admitting no power or privileges or
disability in one sex not common to
the other, and claiming for woman
an absolute control over her patri-
mony and acquisitions, as well as
over her person, it docs not hesitate
to affirm as one Of its ultimate dog.
mas that there is "no more reason
why the woman should take her hus.
bands Dame in marriage than why
lie should take hers Thus the
christian law Of the household is not
only disparagcd, but denounced as q
degradation Of woman and social
tyranny.
The other theory-an outgrowth Of
school Of political economy rather
than Of any settled philosophy Of So
cial life-starts from the radically or
posite principle Of the subordination
of the individual to the State, and in
sists upon modern equivalent to
the Pagan doctrine formulated by
the speculations Of Plato, which
place marriage absolutely under The
sanction and supervision of tho State.
Both theories substitute The idea Of
contract for that Of moral law as en-
bodied in solemn covenant, the
former turning upon the freedom Of
the contracting parties to define and
limit obligation ; the latter upon the
lllHClCiU SuUJCCG tlaJIci vi Gllt .ISfCc-
mcnt as defining the duty and pre-,
scribing the duration Of the cove
nant. Both theories encourage an
unlimited facility Of divorce. Both
theories loosen the ligaments and
corrupt the inmost fbres Of home lie
by robbing it of it's religious sane
ton.
Separation in any form should be
regarded, and is regarded by the
church, as last and dreadful cxpe.
dicnt, only to be justified by the
gravcst considerations, and, as it
we're, conceded to the unfortunate
beings whose position constrains the
grant Of such relief, But no scpara.
tion carries with it the right to seek
another alliance; nor, except in one
case, can subsequent marriage be
permitted. After parties have been
lawfully joined together, according
to the will Of God, divorce with per
mission to marry again is not concc-
ded by the church, unless the ground
Of divorce be adultery, and in that
case the guilty party is absolutely
excluded from marrying again during
the lifetime Of the other, and to the
innocent party only is permission
conceded TO contract another mar.
riage.