Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-30
DIVORCE AND HOME
Thoughtful Papers Read Before the
Social Study Convention.
EVILS AND DANGERS DESCRIBED
Reforms Which Are Necessary to
Preserve National Purity.
VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

The Problems of Divorce" and THE
Home and Its Defenses" were the subjects
of two papers which We're read this morn
ing before the convention for social study.
composed of ministers of the Washington
district, Baltimore conference, M E.
Church. now being held at Hamline Church.
In treating the first-named s-5;ect, Rev.
A. II. Thompson said sociology accorded to
the family the highest and most important
position. because domestic virtues were the
source of all the patriotic virtues and
wholesome home life was the pledge of
sound and permanent nationality. From it
all institutions had grown. and through 1t
all future reforms must come. Its interests
were vital to all. and therefore any inroads
Upon it should be regarded with the gravest
concern. THE saloon robs it, he said;
righteousness pollutes it, immigration de-
grades it, the tenement suppresses 1t and
divorce destroys it by defeating the very
purpose for which it was created
Evils of Easy Divorce.
Mr.. Thompson, after Sketching with
scholarly stroke the various forms OF mar
rage and showing that permanent monog-
amy should be defended against all perils.
said to preserve the purity of the home d.
vorce should be made the most difficult OF
things attainabe. Easy divorce made mar
riage a light affair. 1t tended to elevate
the lower elements in marriage and family,
and was contrary 10 the highest ethical and
moral sentiment, ana fatty contradictory
to the teachings Of Christ.
Asking the question what could be done to
check the evil Mr. Thompson said it was
necessary to reform the laws He quoted
Bishop Potter as saying: The facility with
which the marriage relation may be taken
on and mi off * fOllnCa
tons of society and jest to the civilized
world.
In more than one-third Of our states and
territories he continued a marriage is legal
without a scrap of writing or witness.
Legal reform should proceed along the
lines of caution. Cancellation and uniform
ty. Greater care should be exercised In
permitting license to marry and privilege
of divorce. Above all. constant pressure
should be made to bring about a constitu-
tional amendment by which the entire coun-
try could be brought under a uniform law.
Mr.. Thompson was warmly congratulated
by his brother preachers upon his paper.
Dangers That Reset the Home.
Rev. J. F. Heisse, in treating the theme
of The Home and Its Defenses' described
the dangers that beset the home. which in
its integrity was the foundation of all per-
manent and progressive civilization. and
which. if impaired in its purity and stabi-
ity. produced a nation weakened and halt
ing toward decay. Among the dangers
within the home, he said, We're avarce and
cupidity, attendance upon clubs and fra
ternal organizations, looSeneSS in which
marriage vows are held non-e enforcement
of Self-dependence in children; Dissertation
of the Sabbath. unwse and indiscriminate
reading, the increasing liberation of the
dance within the home. of the card table as
well, and the journeyings to the saloon
with the bucket or pitcher for beer.
The dangers without the home included
child labor, evil companionship, the tolera-
| ticn OF vicious scenes and signs upon the
streets. the cigarette. the liquor traffic and
suburban resorts where liquor and gaming
are attractions.
Defenses That Should He Set Up.
There should be more fatherhood and
motherhood in the home, said Mr.. Heissc,
treating on defenses within; more bright
ness. pictures, music. harmless games. 1t
should be made pleasant that children
would rather be there with their parents
than anywhere else. Parental authority
should be softened into benignant influence
and love, cultivated between those govern
ing and those governed, and church mem
| bers should see to the establishment of
| family affairs in their homes.
DefenSes without the home were to be
| found, he declared. in the regulation OF
| labor hours, because men commended justly
| when they demanded more time to spend
| with their families. Marriage laws, now
! there should be uniform and eXacting di-
| vorce laws. Compulsory education, laws
| preventing child labor and the annihilation
! of the saloon were demanded.
| Mr.. Hesse said he believed that curfew
law should universally prevail. Our land
is being de!used with torrents of evil, veri-
/ table lava from a burning, destructive
Vesuvius' said Mr.. Heisse. in conclusion.
/ The tidal of wrong is beating
! against and undermining and destroying
/ home. Christianity is the massive wall
| that stands for its salvation
| Other Proceedings.
| In the discussion which followed both pa
pers the question of the law in the District
requiring preachers to report upon mar
riages performed was brought up. and the
some official to keep ministers informed of
what was required of them.
| Rev. Dr. Wilson thought differently
! Every preacher he said. upon going to
a charge should find out for himself at
| once what the marriage laws are" There
was too much carelessness, he thought, in
! this respect.
| Other pape-s read at the morning session
! were by Rev. A H. Ames, DID. who re-
viewed Gfddinss' Elements of Sociology
and by Rev. s. l.. Bryant, who reviewed
| Wrights Practical Sociology. 1t was an
nounced before recess that there would be
| a spiritual quickening conference especially
| for preachers and officers of churches at
Foundry NJ. Z. Church next Monday at s
afternoon, and all preachers were requested
| TO announce ii from their pulpits next Sun
| Day and urge full attendance of their re-
| spective church officials.
| Program for Closing Sessions
| The program for the session this after