The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-15
EASY DIVORCES.

Not long since a northern society woman
asked a Virginia lady: What DO you
think of divorce?" Her ready reply was.
proceedings. All my married relations lcye
one another"
If there Is one great original and fun
damental fact in the history q humanity
~ IS the sacredness Of the marriage pc
iRtion. He that made man in the begin
Ming in the image OF God, created lie
him: male ana female created lie them. "
And the first recorded words OF the first
man are: This Is now bone of my bone,
and flesh Of my flesh: Therefore shah a
man leave his father and his mother,
and shall oleave unto his wife, and they
shall be one flesh
Inadciity between man and wife is. In
the decalogue. classed with murder, theft,
lying, and sacnlege. 1t began after the
fall of man and has prevailed along with
other crimes. forever hardening all with
IN am Purifying the feeling. loveiing man
70 the brute creation; worst among the
lowest.
He that came 10 raise man from his low
estate ana reconcile hi,l TO his Creator es-
tabiished and consecrated matrimony. lie
that was the founda TOMBSTONE OF our civil
lization, the author of Christianity, re-
iterated thu early record ana divine order
that made the tW ain one flesh, ana added
the words that finish the ceremonial:
what therefore. God hath Joined together
let no man put asunder."
Only by ruling out the authority of
the New ana OLD Testau ents and con-
tempt Of the Word and commandment
can the law Of adultery be alrogateo or
repealed. While the authority OF Jesus Of
Nazareth stands, that crime must stand
a. He has pronounced It.
II marriage is a divine and sacred
order, then no human laws can alter its
obligation. Civil laws OF easy divorce
only facilitate crime. and promote II WITH
impunity. They leave not only tho guilty
parties but the communities that favor
adultery to the degradation which Is the
unfailing retribution Of nature and Of ma
lures sod. AS the purity. the stability
the virtue, the prosperity. and happiness
OF the nation depends upon and springs
out OF the sacredness and virtue OF the
family and home. so the excellence or
the home and family is absolutely Deepen
dent on the sacredness and permanence
Of marriage. The home Is the nursery OF
virtue and religion. and husband and wife
should not be held together only by pleas
ure and convenience. but sacred union
made one by God, dignified and honorable
the complement OF one another, the last
and browning glory OF creation; their mu.
tual duty, devoted and honorable love.
and their responsibility. the cultivation
Of virtue and intelligence and devotion
70 God as their best wealth.
Below this. easy divorce and ready part
ing asunder makes discord at home for
the married people and quicksands OF the
snrest foundations Of society
The early outcome OF easy divorce is
fce and misery: often splenoid. pul al
the more deep and intense. perpetuate its
conditions. and we need not ask If there
10 such place as he'll. The kingdom OF
hell Is within them.
A. the marriage Of the FIRST pair by tho
great God Himself was the glory ana
beauty OF the creation. 80 through the
Scriptures the bridegroom and the bride
ere the leading eplblem OF Christ and
HIS Church. Of God and His people; ana