Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-05-11
NEW VOL. 23-NO. 81.

war. there was q marriage for each 100
of the population. The same In 1880.
would have given her about $500
marriages. while the average for the
five years then ending was but %, 900.
In 1888, Baltimore had J, 3,519 marriages,
which did not represent the total be-
cause many went into other States To
escape the high license. When these
are added and the result compared
with the 4.S3l licenses issued in 1887,
no one will claim that the increase in
marriage has kept pace with the in
crease in population. Facts like these
must be accepted "a indicating an APP
preciable decrease in family life.
Ii is an old claim Of those who plead
for lax divorce laws that strict legisla-
ton on this subject, with the attend.
ant decrease in the number Of di-
vorces. would inevitably be followed
10y an alarming increase of the social
evil and of sins against chastity. on
cial figures prove just the opposite.
Massachusetts,. with its nine causes
for divorce. certainly presents fair
enough field for comparisons. With
easy divorce. il ought To be moral
paradise, according 20 this theory.
Yet. in the period OF 1860 Co. there were
1852 divorces granted; from 1902,
2.955 divorces. From 1860 90, there
were 6S3 convictions for crimes against
chastity; in the latter, 1887 !! While
convictions for felonieS increased but
fifty-two per cent, crimes against
chastity increased one hundred and
fifty-seven per cent. And while con
victions for minor ofrenses increased
but fourteen per cent, for minor Of
fenses against chastity they increased
eighty-four per cent. All this time
the population increased but twenty
three per cent. The "safety-valve'
proved source Of danger
Several things have fostered and de
yeloped this plague. The theory that
marriage is IA civil contract, and no
more. has had much to do with II.
Marriage, We are told, il virtually
business partnership, terninable at
the pleasure of the interested parties.
That il is Il divine institution, making
a man and n woman one flesh, binding
I'm n union not 10 be dissolved, and
more il forgotten or denied. The de
sire for another marriage II behind
much Of the craze. \ new matrimo.
sought. Vermont changed her law so
that the offending party was forbid
den to marry for two years Result
the number Of divorces immediately
dropped thirty-four per cent The
loose divorce legislation prevalent In
many States would appear to be an
other feeder Of this abomination. The
tendency is constantly toward the adj
dition of causes for divorce, and the
list grows n fast rs the loose morals
Of "A community demand. Almost all
modern divorce legislation is for causes
not sanctioned by the New Tesia-
ment. True, such legislation Is do
Tended on the ground that Christian
need not avail himself Of Il, that he
can rise above Il; but that all are not
Christians Yet any true citizen must
feel that the purity Of marriage de-
nands every protection; and that tho
state, for it's self-proservation, IL for
no other reason. must conserve H.
From the position Of coDdemDing the
state. when IL allows the marriage tie
to he dissolved on slight grounds, the
Christian cannot recede, because just
here he belisves his judgment is based
on the word Of Christ.