St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-03
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

The failure of the late general con-
gentiOn of the Episcopal church toadOpt
the canon on marriage and divorce which
was submitted to the consideration Of
that body has provoked more or less
criticism. and in some instances 1t has
been as unkind as it was unjust. 1t
must be remembered that there is al
ready an Episcopal canon in force for
bidding divorce among members of the
church except for Scriptural cause, and
prohibiting its members from SOlemnIZ-
ing the marriages OF persons otherwise
divorced. The new canon which was
proposed and rejected by the general
convention not only re-afir med these
positions, but in addition thereto
declared against clandestine or secret
marriages, and included that tireSOme
old business about the deceased wife'S
sister. 1t was these two additional
features which incurred opposition in
the convention, and twas on account of
the intrusion of them into what was
otherwise a we'll considered project of
theological law that the whole subject
was postponed until the next conven-
ton.
In view of the fact that the tendency
of modern legislation in this country
has been to relaxation of the marriage
tie, all the religious denominations
have felt it to be an imperative duty to
exert their influence in resisting it, and
thus it has come to pass that there is
scarcely a UNCONVENTIONAL convention of
any kind held but there is some sort of
deliverance on this subject. This fact has
probably provoked criticism on the ac-
tion of the late Episcopal convention
from parties who had not informed
themselves as to the causes which led
TO p0stpOnement of the subject.
All questions connected with mar
Tiage and divorce have a general inter
est. The abuses which have grown up
under our loose system Of divorce laws
have unquestionably created sentiment
in favor of more stringent legislation.
It is not necessary for person to have
religious prepOssessiOns to see that the
institution Of the family is at the base
Of all our civilization, and that it is the
duty OF all good citizens to repel all as
saults upon it. All Ie iecting persons
consider this question of marriage and
divorce from the standpoint of public
policy, and view it more exclusively in
the interests of civilization than as to
any special prerOgatiyes possessed by
the church or the clergy relating to 1t.
There is a growing sentiment, too, that
If the family is to be preserved as the
social and political unit, it is necessary
TO Ordain that people must stand by
their mistakes, even though these often
result in hardShipS to in ocent persons.
Human nature is so fallible it will
not do to leave matter of so great
Importance to the public interests to be
decided according to the individual in
clinatiOns of persons who enter the mar
ried state. A distinguished English
Judge once said, very wisely: "PeopIe
arc made good husbands and wives by
the knowledge that they must continue
husbands and wives" Upon this
theory, il there were no divorce laws
there would be fewer unhappy mar
riages. The ease with which divorces
are obtained is an undOubted tempta-
ton to agglavate and prolong family
Quarrels that might otherwise be al
layed, and the knowledge that married
persons can regain their liberty without
incurrng any social or legal penalties
unquestiOnably gives rise in many eases
TO the wish to regain it. Whereas, if
they were made to understand upon
entering the marriage union that moth
ing but death could dissolve the bonds.
they would readily see that it was to
the interest Of both parties to make
their lives easy and agreeable by mu-
tual concessions.
The two Objectionable features in the
canon proposed in the Episcopal con-
yentiOn embOdy well nigh obsolete
ideas. Secret or clandestine marriages
are repugnant in some respects, and
yet there are instances where they can
not be avoided and are clearly in the
interest Of morality and deceney. The
other, relating to marriage with de-
ceased wife's sister, is phase of An
glomania which does not accord with
the spirit of American ideas and Ameri-
can Institutions; consequently the con-
ventiOn acted wisely in declining to
adopt either Of these proposed innova-
tions.