The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-30
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
STRONG AND TIMELY WORDS con-
CORNING MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
short Sermon by the Rev. Frank j.
MaIlett, Rector of st. PauPs Epis-
copal Church, Beloit, Wis.

Text: what therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder. MARX
X, 3.
The daily press of the country has given
much space to the proceedings of the Gem
eral Convention of the Episcopal Church, re-
Gently concluded at Washington, and multi
tudes watched with special interest for its
action upon the proposed canon on divorce.
1t has been said that America has sup
piled the highest ideal of womanhood and
that much credit for this is due to the in
fiuence of the exalted ideals of the church.
which has scripturally honored and re-
vered the marriage state, which has stood
for and protected what Dean Church called
1.-The domestic type of happiness" She has
been called on to oppose with all her power
and influence the criminally lax marriage
laws of certain States to correct popular
and degrading views of matrimony and to
attack the divorce mania wherever it is
found, among high or low, rich or poor.
For one cause only has this church ever
permitted the severance of the marriage tie
and the contracting of another marriage,
and it was believed by those favoring the
new legislation that the time had now come
for the ideal to be adopted-that the in
dissolubility of the marriage bond must be
enforced by rubrical or canonical law, OPP
posed TO solemnizing the marriage of either
party to a divorce during the others life.
Many both within and without the church,
had hoped for its passage at this time. But
If not now, then at no distant day. Let all
be glad and thankful that the church is en-
deavoring to more emphatically harmonic
her practice with her formularies, to rec
fleet and enforce the language of her mar
riage service, It'll death do US part"
The divorce question is a woman's ques-
tion The divorce courts would do a less
thriving business if in all walks of life
women would make up their minds to re-
ject, for themselves and for their daughters,
the attentions of men who however plausi-
bic, rich or handsome, were not morally
wholesome. I know society condones in
man what it does not in woman-that there
is, o grievous wrong! double standard.
but woman can remedy this by demanding
purity for two'-the single, rational, godly
standard raised by Christ and His church.
A WOMAN'S QUESTION.
1t is a womans question, because, mar
ried single, she holds the power to keep
this standard aloft Many centuries have
rolled away since that grand eulogy re-
corded by King Lemuel as the words that
of a noble matron; but her ideal of true
womanliness is as attractive now as then.
and should be still an inspiration to all the
sex: THE heart of her husband doth safely
trust in her. She will do hum good and not
evil all the days Of her life She worketh
willingly with her hands, she stretcheth out
her hand to the poor. She openeth her
mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is
the law of kindness. She lOOketh wei. to the
ways of her household and eateth not the
bread of idleness. Her children rise up and
call her blessed; her husband also, and he
praiseth her. Strength and honor are her
clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to
come"
The description, quoted here only in part,
is model for the ages. What nobler con-
ception of womanhood could be penned to-
day? Upon her brow sparkles the crown of
virtue. She cherisheS her children, loves
and reveres her husband, governs her
those outside the home circle she is affabe
and courteous, and to be needy "she
reacneth forth her hand Happy is the
child with such a nother Happy he who
possesses such a wife! Blessed among wom-
en- she who exemplifies this scriptural ideal
OF the ''wonanly woman"
1t may be asked whether too many wom-
en- do not in these days give way to some
such feeling as this-that the average wom-
an" cannot attain to such exalted and rare
ideals. The 'up-to-date'' woman too often
imagines that her life, under present con-
sditions and standards, can have very little
matrons True, the new woman" has a
very different lot from that of her sister of
garden of the soul remains to be cultivated
it may be with modern implements and
methods, in trying age; but the. seed to be
sown is the same, the old principles may be
adapted to the new conditions, and the
harvest of virtue in any and every age is
attractive and beautiful. "A handsome
woman is a Jewell but a good woman is a
priceless treasure. = Beauty of form, dis
tinguished presence, rare accomplishments
all these desirable though they be- are
fleeing, fading gifts, but sweetness, purity
gentleneSS, these abide forever, and these be
the. bonds by which all true men are ever
We are justified in our alarm at the prev
alence of loose principles regarding love
| the low tone of morals in this regard by go
| ing back of the immediate causes? The
SanG ana af sba das we see ON n
| ward moral obliquity but to tainted
moral atmosphere.
EVIL LITERATURE.
Who does not believe that impure litera-
ture is fruitful source of moral pollution?
| The young are to-day constantly exposed to
this peril. The stream of openly vile or
suggestive books is simply frightful. Sin
and sensualiry are bedecked with flowers
and too often the unsuspecting and pure
girl is brought suddenly face to face with
forms of evil that, in real life, she is guard
ed from and would shrink from in terror
This stuff exalts vice, makes heroes of the
| vicious and spreads gloss over crime-and
| this moral contagion is everywhere
| Mothers should know what their daughters
read.
Again, with all our Boosting as to the
emancipation of woman, with all our efforts
TO open up avenues of usefulness and sup
port for her, we still have in America
false idea of the dignity of idleness. The
parents of many girls will have much to
answer for. Not a few seem to have for
gotten the old rhyme of their own child
hood-something about Satan finding mis-
chief still for idle hands to do. False views
of life have led to much foolish indulgence
on the part of many parents; the mother
tolls early and late in order that her daugh-
ter may keep her hands white and pretty
and that she may perfect her cduca ton and
marry well. The highest purposes of life
are ignored and the girl is taught to con-
form to an erroneous and even dangerous
code of manners and accomplishments that
are in multitudes Of cases worse than USE
less.
Young women in any and every station
should be taught the real dignity of work.
Some may never be called upon to toll for
their daily bread; but this we know, that
she who has been taught that life is real
life is earnest, taking the path of rational
self-denial, Will. If ever brought to work
for livelihood, find it easier to avoid that
gided and guilty idleness that awaits those
who know not how to work.