The evening times., 1899-10-05

and practice, depending mainly on the
church connections of the persons seeking
to be married. In every case the presence
of a minister seems. however, TO have been
considered essential TO a respectable mar
riage. possibly from the feeling that this
was an act involving very specially many
religious considerations, while at the same
time the minister was a public parsonage
whose position youched for the occurrence
and the regularity Of the marriage. For a
similar reason and because of its civil and
legal aspects, municipal and State officials
of standing became entitled to conduct mar
riages, and their action as to the marriage
became accepted in all its consequences
both in social life and by the law of the
land. The lex loci thus determined the
legislation alike as TO marriage and dl-
yorce.
Such seems to have been the state of
matters at the time of the formation of
the National Union In 1775. when no leg
islation was adopted on this subject
This had apparently been Intentionally re-
served for each separate State, that local
customs might be respected. Neither in
the articles of Confederation of 111S nor
in the National Constitution that came into
operation in 1857, nor in any of the ordi-
nances adopted for the government OF the
territory of the United States northwest
of the Ohio River in 1881 is there any
mention Of either marriage or divorce.
The whole question of domestic relations
was left to the governed b. the wishes Of
the locality
At the Formation of the Union.
"At first with sparse population, and
this largely controlled by the religious and
educative influences of their upbringing
there would be no change in the legisla-
tion. but by degrees these elements passed
away. Ideas respecting marriage and di
yorce, very unlike those previously cur
rent, came across from France. Immi-
grants came from other European coun-
tries whose plans of life were altogether
lower than that which existed here and
then positive legislation became impera
tive BY this time much lower concep-
tion of relationship itself prevailed, and
as each State possessed all power over its
own internal and domestic legis alton, diff
ferent systems began to prevail. In this,
as in all moral questions, experience soon
showed that under universal suffrage, re-
Taxation Of strict rule can hardly ever be
recalled.
In this way such diversities have aris-
en- in the legislation of the country as form
a serious peril to the purity of the land and
the progress of Christian morality. The
facilities given for divorce resulting from
these differences shock the moral sense of
every upright individual, so that in self
defence as well as in her duty to the ex-
listing divine injunction. the Church of
Christ is called on to deal with this SUBJ
ject and to do so at once.
A Bill TO Regulate Divorce.
within the last month a meeting has
been held at Buffalo for uniformity Of
State law, for. the purpose OF drafting a
bill to regulate the interstate grounds for
divorce and divorce proceedings. The con-
ference agreed to publish a draft, but to
delay further action for a. year. This draft
deals mainly with the, question Of resi-
dence,' reserving some simplifying of the
grounds on which divorce can be obtain
ed for the future The draft is as follows:
First. Divorce not 70 be- granted fg ground
arising before the residence in the State Of suit
unless il was good eTc,ind IN the State in which
il happened.
Second. Where the grounds arise within the
State where suit Is brought, the plaintiff must
have resided in il at least pne wear.
: Third Where the ground of divorce arose out
side of the State, the residence, with bona fide