The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-14
Meeting Of the CONVERSATIONAL Club.

The February meeting Of the Portland
Congregational Club was held last evening
at the Preble House. There was good at
tendance Of the members with an interesting
representation from other denominations
Among the special guests of the club were
Bishop Neely, Rev. DR.. Dalton, Rev. A. X.
P. Small, d. D.. of the First Baptist Ichurch,
Rev. Henry Blanchard of Congress Square
Universalist, Rev. E. c. Cummings, and
others.
The social hour was much enjoyed. and
this feature Of the Portland clubs meetings
is by no means matter Of form, but one OF
attractiveness and weight.
At the table the divine blessing was in
voked by Rev. Dr. Small. The supper was
of the usual excellence in service and
quality.
At the business session several new mem
bers were elected and the important question
of limiting the number Of members in the
club was referred to special committee to
report at the next meeting.
President Daniels felicitously introduced
the speaker of the evening" Rev. Samuel W.
Dixie Of Auburndale, Mass, secretary OF the
National Divorce Reform League. The spec
ial subject presented was ''The Perils OF the
Family" Mr.. Dixie defined the family as
one man and one woman united in wedlock
with their children, The question, is, is the
family what and where it should be to stand
the strain of modern times.
The family is threatened by the number OF
dissolutions of the family tie. Divorces are
increasingly frequent. In the several States
we find from FIVE to fifteen per cent OF faml-
lies annually formed are broken up by d.
vorces. Desertion adds to this proportion,
and bigamy still more increases it.
The family is the social unit and other So
cial institutions are all strong or weak as the
family is pure and true to itself or fails to
hold its normal position.
A great peril to the family arises from the
present growing disuse Of family life We
have not only few good homes but few
homes This disuse of the family has much
important bearings upon education, upon So
cial, civil and religious life.
We ought to undertake new studies and
make new efforts to strengthen and improve
the family The students Of social science
and all true social reformers should strike
hands with the clergy and the clergy with
the real basis Of all which can be done for
social and religious purposes, by taking ade-
quate measure of the power OF true and pure
family life.
The Club gave most cordial welcome. to
Mr.. Dixie, and his clear, able, thoroughly
studied and most suggestive address was lis
tened to with marked attention.
1t was clear from the discussion that 1ol-
lowed the address, that vital subject had
been presented in mastery way. Rarely
Ia. l..t~ NAwr hxr "A
discussion of such interest and weight.
The opening remarks, by Rev. Arthur
Shirley of New Gloucester, admirably out
lined the great issues involved in the purity
of the family life.
The relation of divorce to religion was
forcibly and eloquently considered by Bish-
op Neely, who is member of the National
Divorce Reform League" He expressed his
conviction that there is no evil In modern So
ciety doing so much damage as divorce in
our day. 1t was, to him, a satisfaction that
he was connected with a church which de-
nies the sacraments to those who break the
Christian law of marriage. When the clergy
and members of churches are ready to take a
decided stand upon, this matter, this great
evil will receive check. This attitude OF
the church would secure and give force TO
such new legislation as is called for in the
premises.
DIR. Dalton said that the rationalistic writ
ers of the day hold and teach that marriage
the New Testament and the Christian relig
ion should rest these vital matters Of mar
Tiage and divorce. DR.. Dalton paid high
tribute to the Irish people of America, and
their loyalty TO the true marriage relation.
Rev. Mr. Blanchard said we must be in
earnest in declaring marriage divine insti-
tuition with sanctions above all those OF
merely civil relations. DIR. Small would em-
phasize the Importance of giving this ques-
tion the place it really holds among the great
and urgent reforms of the day.
Rev. e. G. Cummings expressed his high
appreciation of the careful studies under
lying such a paper as that just presented,
and he believed that careful investigation
would not fail to place the reform consider
ed this evening at the very front in weight
and Importance.
At the close of the general discussion Mr.
Dixie paid high compliment to the intelli-
gence, ability and power with which the
church had considered the theme he had
brought.
In a few we'll chosen words Mr.. Horatio
Staples moved the thanks of the church for
the able and instructive address.
President Daniels voiced the feelings Of
the church in expressing the pleasure the
club had experienced in the presence and
words of their guests.
After prayer and the benediction by Rev.
Mr.. Reynolds of Yarmouth the club ad-
iOurned to the second Monday in March.