Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-20
Marriage and Divorce a Topic
Before Methodists.
ADULTERY AND OESERTlON.
A Learned Judge Holds Both to be Good
Grounds for Divorce for the Innocent.
1t Offers an Escape from Propagation
with Foulness-Marriase's Chain Can
not Bind the Good When the Bad
Have Broken It-Scripturai.



chair. Committee made report on the sub
ject OF a week of prayer. II was recon-
mended that the week beginning Novem-
Der 10 be set aside for meeting of the
senior bishop and presidents of the confer
enceS represented in the council to sign a
call to all MethodiStS. The report was
adopted after the statement by King that
the Eastern delegation had taken such
action.
Through Mr. McLaren the committee on
Methodist statistics made report, which,
in substance, states that returns had been
obtained from all churches represented in
the conference, and tabulated. first geo.
graphically and second ecclesiast ically.
The term adherents included in every case
ministers and members. as well as families,
connected with the congregations. In some
cases estimates were made, but in no case do
they exceed the figures given in the govern
ment census, in some cases they are below.
While no official statistics We're adopted by
the London conferences the figures show
that since that conference there has been
an increase of 80 per cent in Methodist be-
levers. Some of the details of the report
We're read by Rev. DR. Morley. as follows:
Eastern section-Europe--M Ministers, t4S1 !;
members, al5,2S4; adherents, 4,209, 60l.
Asia-MiniSters, 53S; members, 81, 334:
adherents, 1l4.969.
Africa-Ministers, 294; members, Il, l47.
adherents, 2S3, 376.
Australias and Polynesia-Ministers, $50;
mem bers, 90, 40; adherents, ass, lS3.
Totals for Eastern section-Ministers
6094; members, lib, 905; adherents, $685.
lbs
Western section-Ministers, 6,G01; men,
bers. / $50, 494; adherents 2o,3S1, $40
Grand totals-Ministers, 1865: mem
bers, 6,494, 399: sdherents, 3O,2Sl,296.
DR.. Stephenson suggested that foot
note be attached to each item of the report
stating the basis of the estimate, and with
amendment in this respect the report was
adopted.
The business committee acknowledged
the receipt of a memorial concerning the
recognition of visit of the president OF
the United States to the conference. A
resolution was adopted making it q special
order for to-morrow's session of the con-
ference.
DR.. Hamilton presented a report OF the
committee on an executive commission
The report was as follows: The committee
to whom was referred the questions con-
corning a third ecumenical Methodist con-
ference recommend that such 4 con-
ference be held in the year
1901, subject to the approval and
the direction of all the several bodies of
Methodists. The committee respectfully
recommends the appointment of an execu-
tive commission, which shall be constituted
on the basis of the organization of the ecu
menical conference, and which shall consist
of eighty members, The commits
sion shall be divided into two
sections, called respectively the Western
section to consist of fifty members and the
Eastern section with thirty members.
Among other duties the commission is 20
make the necessary arrangement for the
next ecumenical conference, subject to the
approval of the several churches repre-
scented. After some discussion further
consideration of the report went over until
tomorrow, and the topic of the day, THE
Church and Public Morality was taken
up.
Judge Sibley of Marietta, Ohio, whose
topic was Marriage and Divorce Laws
said his time would better be spent in stat
ing the doctrine of morals involved in max
ing clear the principles which should
mould the civil law than in a sketch of its
history or digest of Its pro-
visions. The speakers proposition
was that the right to divorce is
conlplemental TO and demanded by the
right of marriage, not only in the case OF
adultery, but also of desertiou. Marriage
was a means, not an end, special cases ex-
cepted. God ana nature had made the re-
lation the universal right of ma
ture men and women; this in
GLIDING the right of each
sertion deprived the innocent party of the
benefits. The primal benefit of the relation
is mutual society and hclpfulness. This
desertion wickedly violated, hence in rca-
son it is q cause for divorce. The gist of it
all is i'll principle deducible alike from reason
and scripture, that the right to marriage is
its essential benefits and as it is the only
for righteous propagation, it be-
comes paramount to the rule of its perma-
nence in cases of wrong to an innocent
partner, whereby the fundamental obliga-
tons of the relation are abrosated. This
view of the institution makes its great ends,
moral and social, more important
than the technical preservation of
its naked bond, as manifestly they are 1t
looks on the union also in the real character
of a means, djvinely adopted. to work out
noble results for those within its bonds and
not in any case chain to bind the good
after the bad have broken and repudiated
it. Moreover, We believe it in accord
perfectly with the scriptures, so read as to
give the light of their spirit on the whole
subject of marriage. Finally it leaves the
cation with foulness with known adulterers
and from being forced by the wickedness of
desertion into life Of ceIbacy.
Thomas Ruddle, P. A, head master Of
the Bible Christian college, Shebbear, De-
Won, England, was the next speaker. His
subject was the attitude of the church TO-
ward amusements.
Bishop E. n. Hendrix of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South, Kansas City, Mo-,
occupied the chair at the afternoon session.
The first essay was the Lords Day.
by Rev. 7. G. Stewart, Methodist Epis-
cOpal church, Baltimore. It should not be
a day of amusement but day sacred to the
Lord.
Rev. T. n. Bremage of the Wesleyan
Reform Union, said that it should be OBJ
served as the Lords day in our homes, not
with long faces and sad spirits, but as
bright, happy day.
The secretary acknowledged the receipt
Of resolutions offered by delegates concern
ing civil liberty and the imperial power Of
The papacy and the subject of combinations
to the business committee.
Rev. Foss of the Methodist Episcopal
church, Philadelphia, said the urgent need
If children was play. As for athletic games,
he jollier the better, if they were harmless.
But if training made nothing but SPLEEN
lid brutes, the church college should
put them out. The Sunday paper was in
lictable before the bar Of God and the
church stood with it a participant in the
rhine.
After further discussion of the subject
he regular programme ended and Secretary
King announced the subcommittee which
lad been charged with the preparation of
In address from the conference to the Meth
,dist churches and Methodists throughout
he world had completed its work, and the