Evening star., 1898-10-14
Marriage and Divorce.

Citizens of all classes and callingS-eX-
cept perhaps some members of the legal
pICfeSsion-nave of late years been coming
steadily to the opinion that the divorce evil
demands remedial attention. Praiseworthy
efforts toward the adoption of uniform laws
relating to marriage and divorce by the
several state legislatures have, however
met with only partial success, and the
fight for reform in this direction is yet to
be waged in order to secure substantial re-
suits. The feeling of apprehension lest the
bonds of matrimony being dangerously
loosened by custom and the courts has no.
where been more acute than among the
Clergy, especially as the ministers and
priests are brought into such close contact
with this phase of the social life of the
nation. The question has, therefore, arisen
ancng the various denominations as to
whether the churches cannot aid in the eff
fort to secure wholesome reforms IN this
line by adopting vigorously deterrent at
titude toward those who. having lightly en-
tered into the marriage relation, seek as
lightly to dissolve it.
The Protestant Episcopal Church has es-
pecially been concerned in this problem for
number of years. Just as in the ranks of
the English clergy, there exists among the
ion regarding the proper position of the
church toward the parties to divorces. One
element in the church favors an absolute
prohibition against the marriage by an
Episcopal clergyman of either party to a
legal separation, believing that only in this
manner can the church make its influence
felt toward the encouragement of the
growing tendency to disregard the binding
obligations of tine marriage vows. Another
element believes that this practice would
necessarily work inequity by Furnishing the
innocent along with the guilty, conceiving
that in divorce, in many cases, one or
the other party is entitled to consideration
and to the privilege of a second marriage
This issue is now under discussion in the
triennial convention in session in this city
1t is fraught with weighty consequences
1t involves many serious considerations,
and, has already been shown by the de-
bates in the house of bishops, 1t represents
Il wide division of opinion among the clergy.
1t would seem, however, that the adoption
of either of the alternative propositions, be-
tween which are numerous compromises
and amendments would place the church
sufficiently on record in condemnation of
loose divorce laws to exert influence in
behalf of the reform movement already
mentioned.
1t should be the hope and aim of all citi-
zens that the example of the church In
seeking to lessen the divorce evil may be
followed by the political organizations, BY
bar associations, by state legislatures and.
il necessary, by Congress. The variety OF
The laws in the various Jurisdictions and
the ease with which the severe statutes OF
any one commonwealth are avoided suggest
h-.s farT Tp.aa aIn
uniform practices from one end Of the land
TO the other, for no longer are the divorce
laws of one state exclusively for the benefit
OF the bona fide residents of that state. This
question. of course, is apart from that which
now yexes the delegates to the convention
in this city, yet the two are closely united
in the ultimate purpose to produce more
wholesome conditions affecting the marital
relations.