The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-24
A Quickened Public Conscience.

The power Of earnest agitation to stir
the public conscience to demand reforma-
tory processes is Illustrated in the pro-
gress Of the crusade against loose and cor
rupting divorce legislation. During the
last twenty five years, the people of the
United States have been awakening more
and more to the perilous havoc wrought
by the increasingly loose views and low
estimate of the obligations embodied In
the marriage vows and contract.
About twenty years ago, DR.. Leonard
woolsey Duran contributed to the Prince
ton Review paper entitled 'Polygamy in
New England" in which he asoribed, and
with real justification, that the free and
easy divorce arrangements in that por-
tion of the country had brought about
what may be called consecutive poly
gamy," or the frequent marriages Of men
and women divorced by DEGREES Of court
on many Their grounds than that Of adul-
terry, which, according to the founder of
the Christian religion, is the only cause
iof divorce which permits marriages Of d.
vorced parties, during the life Of either
party. ..
."Consecutive polygamy' is not an i'm
proper characterization, on the basis Of
New Testament morality, which conserves
the integrity of the family relation.
To the current number Of the Homiletic
Review, DR.. Dixie, secretary of the Ma
tional League for the Protection Of the
Family, contributes some really encoura-
cling information as to the progress Of the
divorce reform movement. 1t Is not long
since congress set a most praiseworthy
example in such legislation by revising
the divorce laws of the District of Column
bia, making adultery alone the ground for
absolute divorce, while separation from
bed and board only is allowed for other
grounds, remarriage being legal only on
the death Of one party to the divorce. If
that principle were embodied in national
law to supersede all state laws, the high
est interests of the family and Of society
would be subserved.
The tendency in recent years to restrict
remarriage of divorced persons is indi-
Gated in examples cited by DR.. Dixie, from
thirty odd states, as North Dakota, a
noted objective point for the pilgrimages
Of divorce seekers, wher the term Of resi-
dence before a divorce may be sought In
the courts Is changed from 80 days tc
one year and the law forbids the rernar.
riage of divorced persons for three months
after the judicial decree. Oregon and
Minnesota now forbid remarriage Of the
divorced for six months after the decree
California requires the term Of year be-
fore divorce becomes valid.
DR.. Dixie shows that desertion is b!
far the most frequent and most easil.
abused legal ground for divorce, as di
vorces are often obtained on collision be
tween the parties under the plea Of de
sertion. He regards the frequency of di
vorce in the so-called higher circles Of so
ciety as largely responsible for divorc
and desertion among the lower classes.
Thirty-four state commissions on uni
form divorce legislation are now at wor
preparing a uniform act Of procedure Il
divorce cases to be recommended TO
adoption by all the states.
The good effects Of agitation on thi
subject are manifest The family and tn
nome, as IaCLOrS OF the Well-De1ng
state and nation are receiving large an
intelligent discussion. The President G
the United States takes the lead in cham
pioning the integrity of family and home
Practical sociology is earnestly taking u
the subject. The Mothers Congress is
commendable product of the deeper inter
est taken in the home. and there are indi
cations that duickened public conscienc
will bring about the conviction that tn
expression until death us do part in tn
marriage vow Of the church's marriage OF
flee, will more and more be uttered wit
full appreciation Of it's solemnity and fu
purpose of performance and rejection {
any theory which makes natrimony onl
garment which may be frivoously p,
on or off.