The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-01-11
Divorce Reform.

The eighth annual meeting of the Ma
tional Divorce Reform League was held in
Boston January 4. The treasurers report
showed that the receipts of the year were
S2,51592. which is an increase of 1900
over those of the previous year, and which
reduces the debt from 81 ,2q &C to less than
800. The report of the executive commit
tee recommended that $4,000 be raised for
1888 for the ordinary work, and stated the
committees purpose to pay off the debt as
soon as possible The annual report of Cor
responding Secretary Dixie showed great
progress during the past year. The meas
ureS for the collection OF statistics of mar
riage and divorce throughout the United
States had succeeded, and Colonel Wright
of the bureau of labor had the work well adj
vanced. The report of the consuls on
immigration, which was urged by the
league for some years, had been issued, and
Mr.. Dixie had compiled and increased by
his special investigation the material con-
corning the domestic morality of immi-
grants and had published the leading facts
in the New York Independent. Great inter-
est is taken in the investigation of Colonel
Wright. High dignitaries in England and
others have already asked for its results.
The many bigamies and other evils due to
the false assumption of marital relations
were noticed, and the possible need of some
record OF the domestic status of all resi-
dents limited at. Arizona, New York, Con-
necticut, Michigan and perhaps other states
had made improvements in marriage or di-
vorce laws, those of Michigan being es-
pecially important Further legislation
will probably follow the publication of the
statistics now being collected. The year
had been fruitful in able review articles
upon marriage and divorce The work OF
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
the White Cross and kindred efforts were
gratefully recognized. These were in the
line the league had marked ont several
years ago. The popular course of lectures
of Mrs. Maria Upham Drake of Newton
Center, who began to study the family foui
years ago in correspondence with Mr.. Dixie
had awakened great interest in the subject
and other lecturers and parties were ask
ing for similar aid. There were indica
tons that many of our best women, who
have hitherto kept aloof from the work fol
women, because of their reluctance to follow
the leaders in some of their extreme views
were waiting to enter into some such worl
as that which the league and Mrs Drak,
were doing. Interest in the practical worl
of the home was increasing. The growth o
the home department of the Sunday-school
the greater attention paid by philanthropist
to the home and the interest in the scientifi,
and practical study of the family and socia
institutions, were among the signs of thu
times. Nothing was doing more to Great,
| the sentiment that secures reform or legis
lation than this educational work of thu
league. Endowments for lectures in col
leges and elsewhere and publications wer'
needed The officers of the previous yea
were reelected, excepting that the name o
Professor Huntington was substituted 70
that of DIR. PIERCE upon the executive com
mittee. The officers are: President, RICH
Rev. B. III. Paddock, ID; ce.presidents
Rev. Alvah Hovey, DID,, LID, and Hon
n. Shipman, LID; executive committe
of twelve, Professor George Harris, DID
chairman; treasurer, w. G. Benedict; re
cording secretary, c. II. Spalding; CORE
spending secretary Rev. S. w. Dixie. 1t wa
voted that the corresponding secretary b
authorized to receive names of associat
members at fee of So.