The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-14
CRITICISM OF DIVORCE
REV. ID. STANLEY, OF CHRIST
CHURCH, DISCUSSES QUESTION.
He Says if the Courts Are Right
Christ Was WrOng-Services in
other Churches.

On the subject of Divorce" the Rev.
James d. Stanley, rector Of Christ Church,
preached a sermon yesterday morning of
the most interesting nature. In his thought
there was no ambiguity. There are no
compromises to be made in divorce, Mr..
Stanley believes. 1t is either right or
wrong. Christ made marriage an abiding
contract, the courts legalize it's severing.
IF the court is right" he said. then
Christ was wrong" DIR. Stanley said:
This shows US Christ mingling with
men in what concerned them in everyday
affairs, or what deeply touched them in
human relationships. 1t was not unique,
but characteristic. He met men face to
face and hand to hand, just where He
found them.
IF men were called to perpetual fast
or act of devotion, the Christian religion
would be an impossibility to the vast ma
jority, and they would live as either con-
science-Stricken or constituencies beings.
But not so.
'Christs blessing rests peculiarly upon
marriage and the family. His teaching is
direct and unequivocal, and admits of no
sOphistical subterfuge, nor can il be ex-
planned away on any religious grounds.
'On marriage He places an abiding OBJ
legation. The civil court makes legal the
severing of the marital compact. Not so
Christ. If the court is right, then was
Christ wrong.
His divine insight looked to the stability
of the state. as well as to the spiritual
welfare of the individual Whatever strikes
at the permanency of the family puts back
the hands on the dial of time and is re-
dictionary. Short-sightedness may bow to
individual demands and whims, and soft
heartedness may evade the direct command
of Christ; but much legislation arising
therefrOm has sown the wind to reap the
whirlwind. Enactments which look not to
ideal conditions drive society backward.
The rapid increasing in the ratio of dis
rupted marriages to those remaining per-
manent gives cause for serious alarm for
the future
Whence the condition to-day over which
men and angels should weep? Even so dis
astrous contention as that of socialism
may have its subtle, baneful effect. But an
exaggerated individualism is the chief
cause. 1t demands, in it's full expression,
that marriage may be entered upon at the
dictate of within, and severed when il please
not, at the call of passion or caprice. But
the family, and not the individual is the
social unit; and whoever assaults the fam
lily assaults the state Many have given
their lives for the state; men should be
willing to live their lives for it's purity,
its uprightness and it's stability.
''Matrimony is no holiday jaunt over a
safe sea, requiring courage nor diSci-
pine. To live happily ever afterwards
may be romantic dream, but how often
is the dream without thought of sacrifice,
or restraint. and curbed will. The charac-
ter of many marriages invites disaster.
Successful marriages. the world may call
them uccessful-successful. forSOoth, be-
cause a commercial instinct is gratified-
but uncongenial temper. which neither of
the participants is disposed to curb, turns
the gold into dross, or imagined sentimental
affinities elsewhere sadly weaken, if they
do not destroy the existing bond. Mere
speculative ventures in happiness, with
thought of other possible rupture than
that which death brings, is mockery Of
the high and holy estate of matrimony.
In the light OF social duty and Christ s
declaration. much of modern thOHQhf
the subject is peculiarly repulsive.
Christ is needed to-day at the marriage
and in our homes. There may be such
woeful matrimonial failures that the home
must be disrupted; but Christ forbids the
alternative of further alliance save with
one possible exception. Those whom God
hath Joined together. let not man put asun-
der is His abiding decree. Innocence NAV
sometimes suffer, but it is only thus that
the principles of the kingdom of God shall
continue on earth"