The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-30
RELIGION. MIGHTY AID.
Rev. G. M. Sheldon Says There
Would Be Fewer DesertiOns
Of Wives, If There Were True
Religious Feeling In Families.
Postmaster a. J. Arnold Says Women
Ought to Have More Power and
They Night Secure Rem
edial Legislation.

Possibly no Topeka man gives hui
manitarian subjects more true deep
study than does Rev. Charles NJ Shell
don of the Central Congregational
church. lie is an earnest student Of So
cial problems
In speaking of the deserti0ns Of wives
BY husbands in Topeka and all over the
country. the causes of the condition and
Its probably or possible remedy hesays.
All the causes may be practically
resolved into one Poverty, variety OF
temperament. differences IN TASTE or
differences in education are not ia
themselves sufficient causes for the de-
Eertion of a wife by a husband. They
are not the great determining causes
They are only accompanying causes
Husband and wife can live happily and
tremendously together All their lives
under the greatest stress of poverty or
even the widest differences in many
matters if the marriage starts right and
rests ON the foundation that must IN
derlie all true marriage
believe that the marriage relation
AS always i'm more or less danger of dis
solution unless the marriage is pro-
IOundly Christian. BY Christian Il mean
that the genuine religious spiritual eX-
perience that human nature is capabl
of knowing. must be q vital factor in
the lives Of both the man and the wo-
man do not mean religious 1anatlc-
asln nor the shallow deception of a SEN
Ll1nentality that often maSqueradeS as
religious emotion I mean the unceas-
which we call character. or righteous
ness, not creed but conduct. In other
words, the great cause for the contempt
in which the marriage compact is held
dn every case where desertion is a fact,
As the absence of that Christian f0unda-
lion in the lives of the man and woman
who marry with no true thought OF
marriage and with the spiritual signif-
1cance of the union entirely misundeI-
stood After all, love is the grea test
LactOr in life. in All life.And we always
d ia If1F -
between man and wife, the kind that
lasts under all circumstances until
death parts them always grows out of
me deepest spiritual nature There can
be no true love without true life, that
IS true conduct, Righteousness, charac-
Ter.
II like to believe. and it is certainly
true in our city, That the hundreds OF
marriages that are happy and enduring
FAR outnumber the unhappy The de-
sermons are very many But the ma
5ority Of homes in the city and state are
based on the right thought of life. Mar
rage IS not failure But the way in
which it is contracted may be. The
1amlty Is the safeguard of the state.
Let us do all in our power to make it
pure and true at the beginning
POSTMASTER ARNOLD SAYS Pow
ERTT.
In the opinion of "a. j. Arnold who is
topeka $ Democratic postmaster and
philosopher of no mean merit. poverty
and the inability to get employment is
q most important factor in the deser-
ton Of the wife by her husband
~ n man could get steady employ
ment.' he says,"I would have little fear
OF his ever deserving the woman he had
-llaIIled 1or better Or for worse. Con
-Slanr employment then would be the
remedy. i think the big cause is p0v-
erty- A great many men. it is true
marry without the proper considerat ton
OF the great obligations they are assunl-
ing. They don't realize the duties they
owe to a family.
Then when poverty and the pinch
comes it is the man who deserts VVo-
men are naturally more domestic and
devoted to their families and her adj
wee as to its welfare should be needed
oy the man. If every man more often
<ook the advice of his wife in all things
ne would be better husband a better
Father, a better man and better citi-
Tt is a prettey hard struggle where
tiie VIE has to earn the living for the
Lam1ly- If he is unable to earn the food
ana wearing apparel for the family it is
20 "1huef she gets cross and he gets
discouraged. I don't think maria sse is
a failure by any means
1here IS great deal Of trouble in
that we don't all know about but I have
-atltn tnaI right viii prevail I am an
Give women the power and they viii
make things nearer right
10 you mean to convey the idea that
sou believe female suffrage would
mend matters 2f'
Wen. T think it would help. because
!. women We're given the opportunitv
Nhey would pass laws they see the. need
oA better than men do laws that would
3sAI On inns question. T believe this.
because the woman is naturally more
wrapped up i'm her children and would
see ~ their comfort and safety.
.4 have great faith ia the women.
4ou know what Burns said.
AUD nature swears her lovely dears.
Her noblest works she classes o.
her prentice hand she tried on man.
And then she made the lasses Or
ANOTHER HELPING HAND.