The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-03-10

USST 0~ 00Vo 9uaso A0eoA III " 0ou"
iagton this season, . fact which
a8ds 70 tho solicitude felt. Mrs.
B3e;ne il also prostrated by the
events Of the past weeks.
TIE bLAINE-hEVlN5 AFFAIR.
The public mind is now very full
ly informed of the facts of the
case in the divorce suit in which
son of our distinguished Secretary
ot State was the party complained
ot. Tho divorced wife threatens to
aapack and publish her stock of
Puerile lovo letters received from
her youthful suitor, an inAiction
from which the world might we'll
ssk 70 be spared. Such matters
always lind readers, but the public
desire for this particular sensation
10 sstiated. There is, however,
ono important lesson taught by the
sequel of this case, and that is the
folly aud wickedness Of clandestine
marriages.
In tho Blaine-Nevins case one
undisputed fact is prominent. The
parties married clapdestinelv. We
need not waste time inquiring as
10 which Of the pair was the more
hlameworthy. Mrs. Blaine pro-
poses to show that her divorced
husband led in the proceedings.
But her womanly self respect and
. prudent regard for her own fu-
ture, should have led her to refuse
70 marry a minor without the ap-
provsl, or at least consent, of his
parents.
Tho only reason to be given in
this case IL that young Blaine's
parents, one or both. would have
objected. They had right to OBJ
ject. He was under their care and
it was their duty to prepare him to
take a mans place in society. He,
by al law, human and divine,
owed to his parents a dutiful obe-
dieaoe. If the young man believed
tho objections i'll founded, he could
hsvo deterrsd marriage until he
should have attained his majority.
Thon, in 1t least an honorable way
tho union could have been cele-
brated. There was no need for q
boy OF eighteen, to rush into mat
rirhony, without an education. or a
business tr*inin9, or tho blessing of
the best friends he had on earth,
his own parents.
No minister of religion should,
on any account, or for any consider
alton, lend his service or sanction
TO = clandestine marriage, especial
ly whore a minor is party. In this
instance tho officiating clergyman
was careful enough to avoid the
eensure of his ecclesiastical supe-
ri"r, but not careful about doing a
thing wrong in itself. Dishonor
ia parental authority should re-
ceive no countenance from the
altar, much less from the episcopal
throne. The indignation of the
older Blaine ought to burn deep in
to the souls Of all concerned in this
secret and unlawful wedding.
"A minister baptized minor, the
daughter of 4 geatlemau who OBJ
jscted to the sct',: The indignant
father uttered threats of violence
agaiust the minister, and the latter
ssksd tho court to protect him. The
court granted the projection, but
compelled tho minister to pay the
costs, as his act in baptizing the
minor child Of an objecting parent
was IN Improper aud unlawful act,
calculated to call forth indignation
md provoke violence. The act thus
jadicislly rebuk~d consummated
no relations that could do harm or
mako trouble. 1t may have been
churlish in tho father to object as
hs did. But the court maintained
tho right of the parent to control
tho religious education and train.
ing Of his daughter during he,
minority. II, in such case, the
parents right be sacred, how much
moro in regard to the marriage re-
.lation, and Ill that it involves?
Tho mistakeof tho priest and the
archbishop does not often occur in
their communion, which has eve,
20 grandly upheld the honor and
sAnctity OF the. marriage institute
But this instance shows the great
suffering which might have beer
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