Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-25
COMMUNICATIONS.


them, and to effect any improvement in
the condition of society we must go PACK
to the causes of the condition. AND
seems to me that the deplorable social
condition existing springs from TINS: Ihe
marriage relation, as such. Is not duly,
thoughtfully, properly consldereo' Dy many
read, the primary. the chief object of mar
riagc. as ordained in the Scripture, Is the
establishing of the family. To our first
parents, the Creators Injunction was, BE
fruitful multiply, and replenish the earth"
of course this implies the love- and deVo-
ton. and unity. and harmony, that lnsures
happy and holy marriage. This is the
Scriptural idea; and IL this were still the
chief object, l believe there could not be
so many unhappy marriages; nor. as Judge
Scarritt suggests, so many disgraceful di-
Vorces. Cannot the causes of many di-
vorces, and the unhappy condition OF many
couples, be thus traced back to either the
ignorance. thoughtlessness or recklessness,
of those who assume the sacred relation?
a young man, in the pride, and strength,
falls in love- with a young woman. at
tracted by her beauty of face, or SYM
sions, and determines TO win her. The
young lady, pleased with his attentions,
yields TO his solicitations, and they are
married. Probably neither of them has
properly. seriously, considered the mar
riage relation; weighed its responsibilities,
and prepared for its consequences. Is it
any wonder that disappointment. disgust.
regret and divorce follow? When we calm
ly contemplate the actual condition that
exists in society; the hasty marriages, and
marriages for all reasons but the Scriptur-
al one 1t is not surprising that separation
soon follows. Too many people are Joined
by the minister. and the magistrate, who
are legally Joined, but not Scripturally
ms rriedi Thus, it is not too easy TO be
divorced. but too easy to get mar
ried. The marriage ceremony. by mag
istrate or minister. is only public recog-
milton, proclamation, n legaliZation, OF
compact, a marriage. union of hearts,
that has already taken place between two
individuals that have pledged themselves
to each other. Not all countries require
this legalization. And the legaliZation and
public proclamation cannot make two peo-
two have not, under the touch and influ
ence of Divine love, been joined, and blend
ed in an undying, inseparable union. If
there were more consideration. and bet
tien-its import, duties, demands and re-
Sponsibilities; more careful teaching on the
part of parents and guardians, and less
haste, sometimes. on the part of those au-
persuaded that large part of the present
reckless rushing to disappointment would
be prevented. When two persons are le-
gally authorized to live together. having
not an intelligent view of the Scriptural
claims of marriage: and worse still, know
ing but ignoring those sacred claims are
they not living in sin? And are those who
encourage or assist them thus to live, en-
tiTely guiltleSs? To separate persons not
truly, happily, Scripturally married, and
who are thus living in intolerable misery.
seems TO me but an act of humanity. If
we could disseminate a more correct idea
of marriage, and establish a more correct
practice concerning it, l believe the great
evil of the nineteenth century would be
greatly lessened; and our deplorable di-
Vcrce laws would disappear. as there would
be less use for them. end as l began
IL there were more Scriptural marriages,
there would be fewer statutory" divorces.
F. NJ. FURGASON.