The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-18
SUNDAY, OCTOBER Is, 1903.
DIVORCE LAWS.

BISHOP SCARBOROUGH, OIL Inc lIioSe"e "
New Jersey, has refused to approve the
call to church within his Jurisdiction
OF an Episcopal clergyman who was mar
RED to the divorced wife Of another
Episcopal clergyman. The ruling of the
Bishop has made something of a sensa-
ton, and In speaking of the reported ad-
mission of Bishop Paret that it was not
against the law of the church to marry
the innocent party of divorce suit. the
Bishop said:
AZ fail to see how there can be any In
nocent party to divorce. Tho divorce
question Is the most grievous that the
church has to deal with. 1t Is too bad
when 1t reaches even into the ranks of
the clergy.
THE law against divorce is the law of
God and there can be no getting away
from that. I would not take man VINO
had married divorced woman into the
diocese under any consideration. l am
emphatically opposed to divorces no mat
ter what the preteXt for such action
In the same connection 1t is announced
that the Presbyterian Synod of Ohio has
adopted resolutions declaring that "all
our ministers are hereby enjoined to re-
fuse to perform the marriage ceremony
in the case of divorced persons, except
such persons as have been divorced upon
grounds and for causes recognized as
Scriptural in the standards of our
church,
The churches Of the land are more and
more setting their faces against divorce
and 1t is to be hoped that sentiment IN
favor of more rigid laws against 1t is
growing. One of the great needs of the
United States is uniformity of divorce
laws in the several States. We do not
believe it practicable, If desirable, to have
national law on this subject. Such
an encroachinent upon State sovereignty
will never be tolerated in this generation.
and the diversity of divorce laws In the
States shows that there is great diversity
Of sentiment on this subject From
statement recently published 1t is shown
that in twenty States and Territories
willful desertion for the short term of
one year is a sufficient cause for the dis
solution OF the marriage bond. Desertion
for two years suttices in twelve States
and Territories and also in the District
of Columbia. a desertion for three years
constitutes an adequate cause in thirteen
other States alid TERRITORIES, including
Massachusetts,. Connecticut. Maine and
New Hampshire. A failure during ono
year on the part Of the husband to sup
port his wife is ground for divorce
in seven States. lack of support is
sufficient cause, but no time is specified.
In nine other States. including Massa-
chusetts. Maine, Vermont and Rhode Is
land. If the parties to a marriage vol
unfairly live apart for five years, d.
yorce will be granted on the demand OF
either party in Kentucky or Wisconsin,
The joining OF any religious sect that be-
lieves marriage unlawful is a legal cause
for divorce in Kentucky and New Hamp-
for divorce in all the States and Terri
tories except twelve.
The New York law is the same as that
of the Episcopal Church. and the South
Carolina law the same as that of the
Roman Catholic Church, In South Car
olina divorces cannot be obtained upon
any plea. This shows, as we have said,
great diversity OF sentiment, but it shows
also the great need of uniformity 1t
is a national question of supreme impor-
lance. The family lies at the basis OF
all decent society and good government
and the sanctity Of the family depends
upon the serctIty of the marriage tie
Men and women who are joined together
in matrimony should be made TO under.
stand that the contract is for life.
But after all public sentiment mus
determine the matter Public sentiment
must make and enforce the divorce laws
and the churches are doing we'll to Great,
among their members healthy senti
ment in the interest Of the sanctlty o
wedlock and the ndissolubility Of the tic