New-York tribune., 1891-09-24
MARRIAGE <ND DIVORCE.
CARROLL D. wRIGHT's ADDRESS BEFORE THE
NATIONAL UNITARIAN CONFERENCE.

CARROLL D. wRIGHT's ADDRESS BEFORE THE
NATIONAL UNITARIAN CONFERENCE.
Saratoga Springs, n. V, Sept. % SpecaD.-The Ma
tional Unitarian Conference devotional meeting this
| morning was conducted by the Rev. Mary A. Stafford
/ Of Sioux City, Iowa. The subject Of "Chureh Exten
/ sion" was resumed at the business session. and adj
dresses made by the Rev. W. d. Morehouse, sec
retay of the Middle States and Canada Conference; the
! Rev. Dr. Horatio stebbins, for the Pacific Coast the
Rev. George L. CLANCY, for the South, and Others
| The report of the Committee Fellowship was made
| by the Rev. Augustus Woodbury., Of Boston, Mar
riage and Divorce" The title Of an ADDRESS delv
cred by Carroll d. Wright United States Commissioner
! Of Labor, who said in substance
"soclety is the result Of the evolution OF social
moral and industrial forces II is crude or cultured
simple or complex according to the extent Of the evo
iuIon SO It is perfectly true that society is now in
transition state; it always is, else 1t would not be
society," But the passing transition, taking period
Of history, is marked by peculiar developments III
is the peculiar force, the predominance OF the pc
cuar force of Of the elements OF social evolution
that characterizes reform movements Our own gen
Grafton has to deal with several great problems in
which the underlying elements both moral and in
dustrlal The great labor movement, or it is en-
pirically called the labor question, comprehends al
most every phase Of social science"
Mr. Wright then gave a brief statement OF the
material features of the marriage and divorce question
The statistics of divorce all reports having
divorce Jurisdiction and show that during the period
OF twenty years from 1867 to 1856, inclusive, there
were granted in the United States 32S,716 decrees
for divorce. The number in 1867 was 9,937. The
increase during the twenty years was steady and
rapid the number for the last year OF this period
being 25,535, of nearly 157 per cont The
population Of the United States increased during the
same period about so per cent The number OF
married couples to divorce in the United States h
1870 was 664, while in 1880 the number had been
reduced TO 4s1. OF the 325,716 divorces granted in
the United States for the twenty years specified,
216,176, or So per cent were granted TO wives on
their petitions for divorce from their husbands and
$40 were granted husbands for the alleged fault
of the wives.
Continuing Mr.. Wright said al believe II possible
properly to restrict divorce but while restricting di
vOrce, would most certainly make marriages more
difficult. Indscreet and hasty marriages lead straight
TO divorce There are many ways in which divorce
NAV be restricted without abridging the causes for
which it is allowable. For instance, the law might
make the guilty party amenable before criminal court
through Indictment that is to say, il cause which,
Il it existed would be crime is proved as reason
for divorce, the should be transferred at once to
the criminal court. Again the law might make the
State party in every divorce issued, that the ex
parte divorces could not be granted"
In conclusion Mr.. Wright said: emo one regrets
than DO the causes nave leu 10 ulNOICd
movement. l do not believe that divorce is menace
to the purity and sacredness of the family, but do
believe that it is to the internal brutality, OF
whatever name and be 1t crude or refined, which at
times makes he'll of the holiest human relations.
believe that the divorce movement finds It's impetus
outside OF laws, outside of institutions, outside Of
theology that it finds its impetus in the rebellion
of the human heart against that slavery which binds
In the celest bonds Of the cuelest prostitution human
beings who have by their foosness, by their want OF
wisdom by the intervention Of friehds missed the
divine purpose well the civil purpose of marriage
believe the result will be an enhanced purity,
sublmer sacredness, a more beautiful embodiment OF
LamartiRes trinity-the trinity of the father, the
mother and the child-which of itself completes and
continues the race and If would preserve this beau
tiful trinity all its sacredness, society must take the
medicine labelled divorce"
This afternoon held the annual meeting Of the
National Alliance Of Unitarians and Other Liberal
Christian Women. Tonight the Rev. DR.. Grindall
0f Boston, presided missionary mass
meeting, which addressed Dy the Rev. s. J. Bar
rows Of The Christian Register; the Rev. Thomas e..
Msted, Of Chicago; the Rev. Thomas r. Slicer, OF
Conference will close tomorrow night.