Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-03-23
WHITE DIVORCE SUIT.
The Martial Relations of Christian
Scientists Clearly Defined.

To the Editor of The World:-In
your edition of yesterday appeared a
special from Chicago relating to a
divorce granted to George E. White,
ex-congressman of that city. The
article in question seemed to imply
that Christian Science was response
BILE for the aus of the divorce, al
legged as desertion.
In this connection it will doubtless
interest many of your readers to
know what the teachings of Christian
Science really are upon the subject of
the marriage relation. l therefore
enclose you for publication the fol-
lowing quotations and church tenets
from the Christian Science text book,
"Science and Health with Key to the
Scripture" by Mary Baker G.. Eddy,
the Discoverer and Founder of Chris
tian Science, and also extracts from
some of her other writings.
From the Christian Science Journal, June.
1898
Owing to isolated instances where
students of certain idiosyncrasies
misuse and misinterpret my teach
ing, and because of a religious mania
or of wantonly refusing to comply
with the obligations of wedlock, /
hereby publish in unmistakable lam
guage the following statute in the
code of Christian Science:
"a man or a woman, having vol
UNFAIRLY entered into wedlock, and
accepted the claims of the marriage
covenant is held in Chris
tian Science as morally bound
to fulfill all the claims growing
out of this contract, provided such
claims are not relinquished by mu-
tual consent of both parties, or this
contract is legally dissolved"
In "Scien ce and Health with Key
to the Scriptures by Mary Baker G..
Eddy, page 26S, we read: "'She that
is married careth for her husband,
how she may please him., says the
Bible; and this is the p~leasantest
thing to do. Matrimony should
never be entered into without a full
recognition of its enduring obliga-
tions on both sides. There should be
the most tender solicitude for each
others happiness, and mutual APP
probation should wait on all the years
of married life.
Also the following extract from
Miscellaneous Writings:
"Ba faithful over home relations;
they lead to higher joys: obey the
Golden Rule for human life, and it
will spare you much bitterness. 1t
is p~leasanter to do right than wrong;
it makes n ruler over ones self and
hallows home-which is woman's
world. Please your husband, and he.
will be apt to please YOU; preserve
affection on both sides.
The following tenets are subscribed
to by every member of the Christian
Science church:
/. AS adherents of Truth, we take
the Scriptures for u guide to eternal
Life.
2. We acknowledge and adore one
Supreme Infinite God. We acknowl-
edge one Christ, the Holy Ghost, and
mar as the divine image and like
ness.
3. Gods forgiveness of sin, in the
destruction of sin, and the under
standing that sin and suffering are
not eternal.
4. The atonement as the efficacy,
and evidence of love, of mans unity
with God, and the great merits of
Jesus, the way-shower.
;. Universal salvation as demon
strated by Jesus, the Galilean
prophet, in the power of truth over
all error, sin, sickness and death !;
and the resurrection of human faith
and understanding to seize the great
possibilities and living energies of
the divine life.
s. We solemnly promise to strive,
watch, and pray for the mind TO be n
which was also in Christ Jesus, to
one another, aud to be meek,
just, and pure.
AUGUSTA E. STETsoN, esd.
First Reader First Church of Christ,
Scientist, New York, n. Y.