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

THE failure of the late general con
selri0n Of the Episcopal church ToadOpt
tlc anon on marriage and divorce which
,sa- submitted 10 the consideration Of
That body has provoked more or less
criticism. and in some instances It has
been rs unkind as it was unjust. II
must be remembered shat there is al
1eady an Episcopal canon in force for
bidding divorce among members Of the
church except for Scriptural cause, and
prohibiting lis members from SOlemniz-
lur the marriages OF persons otherwise
divorced. The new canon which was
pruposed and rejected by the general
convention not only Teatfir med these
positions, but in addition thereto
declared against clandestine OF secret
marriages. and included that tireSome
old business about the deceased wiTe'S
sister. Il was these two additional
features which incurred opposition in
the convention. and twas on account Of
Ihe intrusion of them into what was
otherwise a we'll considered pr0ieet of
theological law that the whole subject
was postponed until the next cOnven-
zion.
In view 0f the fact that the tendency
eff modern legislation in this country
has been to a relaxation OF the marriage
1ie, ell the religions denominations
have fell it to be an Imperative duty to
exert their influence in resisting it, and
thus il has come 10 pass that there is
scarcely a dtnOminatiOual convention of
any kind held but there is some sort of
ueIjverduce on this subject. This fact has
probably provoked criticism on the ac-
Sion of the late Episcopal convention
IRON parties who had not informed
themselves as 10 the causes which led
10 postp1nement Of the subject.
All questions connected with mar
siaEe and divorce have general inter
cst. The abuses which have grown up
F.uder our loose system 81 divorce laws
a3yc UnqHcstiOnably created a sentiment
in favor Of more stringent legislation.
It IS not necessary for a person to have
religions prcpOsSessi0nS 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 Tepel all as
sauIts upon it. All Ie Letting 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 preTOgatiVes possessed by
the church or the clergy relating to 1t.
There is growing sentiment, too, that
IF the family is TO be preserved as the
social and political unit, it is necessary
20 ordain that people must stand by
their mistakes, even though these often
result in hardShips To in Ocent persons.
Human nature is SO faIlible it will
not DO to leave a matter of SO great
Importance TO the public interests TO be
decided according to the individual in
clinations Of persons who enter the mar
Tied state. 4 distinguished English
Judge once said, very wisely: People
arc made good husbands and wives by
She knowledge that they must continue
husbands aud wives" Upon this
theory, II there were no divorce laws
there would be fewer unhappy mar
2iages. The ease with which divorces
are obtained is an undOubted tenpta-
zion to aggIayate and prOlong family
QuaTrcls that might otherwise be al
}ayed, and the knowledge that married
persons can regain their liberty without
5nCuTrng any social or legal penalties
unquestionably gives rise in many eases
10 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.
shey would readily see that it was to
The interest OF both parties to make
their lives easy and agreeable by mu-
Cual concessions.
The two Objectionable features in the
canon proposed in the Episcopal con-
yentiOn enbody well nigh obsolete
ideas. Secret or cIandestine marriages
arc repugnant in some respects, and
yet there are instances where they can
not be avoided and are clearly in the
interest Of morality ard deceney. The
other, relating to marriage with n de-
ceased wife's sister, is phase of An
glomania which does not accord with
She spirit Of American ideas ana Ameri-
can Institutions; consequently the con-
ycntion acted wisely in declining to
adopt either of these proposed innova-
tious.