The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
The Views Of . Pennsylvania Clergyman.

To TIE EpIroR OF The SuN-,Sir, The let
tors on the marriage and divorce question
printed In last Sundays Sun cover fairly well
the whole subject excepting. Of course. the
Biblical and ecclesiastical reasons for enforcing
the teaching OF Jesus Christ In reference to
those who are married. viz, And they twain
shall be one flesh so then they are no more
twain. but one flesh" est. Mark. T.. y. Now. az
one Of the persons who signed the Declaration
to the General Convention Of 1895, ] may DO
permitted TO interpret a thought or two,
First, those OF rs who believe In the per-
petuity OF the marriage vow do not for one
moment condemn those who differ from us.
Divorce has had Its day. and what State or
nation has not seen the evil consequences?
When men and women have the liberty to marry
some one else the moment a decree OF divorce
has been issued there Is no reasonable hope OF
a reunion and the family Il destroyed,
Secondly. Jesus Christ distinctly says that the
precept Of Moses granting divorce was caused
by the hardness" OF mans heart. Surely.
then. If divorce Is indicative Of hardness Of
heart" the Church Of Jesus Christ ought to try
to soften mans heart. and get II back to prime
val tenderness and purity. No one ought to
condemn the Church OF Christ for doing and
teaching as her Head directs.
Thirdly. but supposlng the innocent party in
the case OF a divorce desires 10 get married
again. Is the clergyman OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church "Romlsh" or narrow" or
unreasonable" II he calls the attention. of
even the innocent party. TO the word, OF the
Prayer Book, to wit: '"' holy matrimony.
which IL an honorable estate. instituted Of God
In the time Of mans innocency, signifyinR unto
,,a tba p,..sttnnl AZ sl,t Ia .,n,~, rls.pN arA
His Church; which holy estate Chris, adorned
and beautihed with His presence and first mira
Gle that He wrought" dc? Is hi wrong in say
Ing that there can be no type left Of the union be-
twixt Christ and His Church II ma rriag Is not In
dissolublef And II he should 90 a little fur
ther and point out the marriage pledge unit
death US do parts he ungenerous 10 say.
how can you thoughtfully and conscientiously
come a second time before a Protestant Episco-
pal altar to be married when death has not
parted you from the one with whom you were
made one fhesh'" May We not. at least those
OF us who are consistent with our Declaration
TO the General Convention Of 1893. be granted
the one favor, charitable criticism?
Fourthly, those who look upon matrimony as
a civil contract had better go to Il Magistrate
in the first place and be married bv him, and
then no one can gainsay their consistency In
getting a divorce. If they deem proper. and
marrying over and over again yes. as often as
the birds mate on the branches OF trees.
/ ask your kind the permission TO add my
name TO this article. | do not like 10
see timidity at any time. Ihavefooked in vain
for the names TO the letters in the paper Of last
Sunday. Come. my brethren. do not be afraid
of men. Speak out Slgn your names Bear
witness 10 your conscience, be II for or against
divorce. We are passing through the fire
lNORAM y. W. IRVINE.
st Johns Rectory. HUNTINGDON. Pa. May2