The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-21
The Marriage and Divorce Question


A strong party in the Episcopal Church
will urge upon it's General Convention in
1901 the prohibition Of divorce altogether
and OF the remarrlage OF any persons d.
vorced for any cause. Bishop POTTER, in his
late diocesan address, did not join in the
demand positively; but in ambiguous
phrases he seemed to question il the prohi-
bition might not be desirable as matter OF
expediency, for he was careful to avoid TAX
ing the Roman Catholic ground that mar
riage, as a sacrament, is necessarily indis
soluble. or course, any proposition looking
In that direction would be as stoutly re-
sisted by the Protestant party in the Epis-
copal Church as it would be eagerly sup
ported by the sacerdotal party.
The dissolubility OF marriage has been a
doctrine OF Professionalism, sustained by
Srriptural Interpretation, ever since the
Reformation. 1t is one Of the distinguish
ing features Of Professionalism as compared
with the sacramenta doctrine Of the Roman
Church. II is supported, also, by the Greek
Church. Consequently, any suggestion that
the Episcopal Church shall abandon the
Protestant position and proclaim the abso.
mtr indissoubilty of marriage il sure to
provoke violent opposition in the coming
General Convention ~ a step Rpmewarl.
AT the Presbyterian Synod of New York
in session al Troy. Il resolution was passed,
on Thursday, enioining on all ministers " alb
soluteiy to refuse to marry divorced per-
sons. except the innocent party under Il
divorce granted for reasons FULLY recog-
nHri in the New TESTAMENT Those rca-
Sons according to Protestant intcrpreta-
tom however include adultery and wiiful
's"rtion the causes for which the vast
majority ol civil divorces are obtained in
this country. tho statistics on the sub
jrcl gathered 10y the National Commissioners
# Llhor in 1887 showing that they cOnsti.
lut"i the causes of nea rly three-fourths
of the divorces secured. On Tuesday
tn" Baptist Convention OF Connect
lieut. had also discussed very earnestly
resolution, that ministers OF the
Gospel should sustain no relation to the
remarriugc 81 persons divorced on any
ground" but the opposition was so strong
and general that ii was finally amended {,
read divorced except on Scriptura
grounds Even then ii was only passed by
the narrow majority Of 81 to 30. More
over. the Rev. DR.. dixie. the Secretary OF
the National Divorce Reform League, went
no further in speaking ut the convention
thar to demand uniform laws regulating
divorce "aS a necessary evil, and he was
in favor OF leaving to the individual pas
tors the question Of marrying divorced
persons. As tha "Scrlptural grounds,
under the Protestant Interpretation, in
clude wilful desertion, the resolution OF tn,
Baptist Convention, like that OF the Pres
byterian Synod, leaves the matter practi
cally unchanged.
What are the uniform divorce laws askeC
for by the reformcrs2 The commission o
lawyers to which their formulation wa
lntrusted has lately published a draft o
and it makes the causes adultery, extrem
cruelty. habitual drunkenness with alcoho
or drugs, conviction Of felony with sentenc
Of Imprisonment and continuous desertion
II is possible that the different Stat
Legislatures might agree in passing such
divorce law, but they cannot be expected t
GO any further in the restriction OF tn
causes. The dissolublity OF marriage as
civil contract is the theory OF all America
legislation, and except in New York. wher
adultery is made the sole cause, and i
South Carolina where there is no divorce
the grounds are made various. To get tn
desired uniformity, therefore, it will Il
necessary for New York to accept the NOR
liberal position Of the rest; they will ncve
come To its position.
Tue causes Of cruelty, dsssrtlon al