The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-29

vorces We're of daily occurrence, the na-
tiOn weakened and went down France
had nearly the same sad experience
Righteousness establishes q nation, put
sin is reprOach to any people. Fourth
ly, as the family and the family altar
go, so go the church and the state You
cannot keep the stream pure II the
fountain be corrupt To save and per-
petuate the church and state we
must, therefore, save and perpetuate the
family and the family altar.
This is the great work which the
Protestant Episcopal church has inaugu-
rated and to the complete execution Of
which it now calls many other denomI-
nations The call is accentuated, first
by the crying need of the hour. Some
thing must be done and done quickly,
or all will be lost; and secondly, by the
fact that there must be a strong united
action on the part of all lovers Of
church and state in order to get the best
results The state is imperiled, the
putting its seal and giving its sanction
to unrighteous relationships 1t IS
thus that the committee expresses its
views Of the situation
She is approving that which IS wrong II
was the conclusivenesS of this tact as set
forth by the committee that led the as
semhly at Los Angeles TO 'en@oln all MIN
isters under its care and authority 10 re
fuse to perform the marriage ceremony IN
the cases Of divorced persons, except IS
such persons have been divorced upon
grounds and for causes recognized as
Scriptural in the standards Of the Prespy- :
terrain church in the United States of
America Nothing TO our mind could pos
siblv show the gravity of the situation
more than this solemn injunction coming
from such an intelligent ard deliDerats
body as our own general assembly Z ne
general convention of the Protestant EPis-
copal church has formulated its cOnNlc-
tion by tentatively affirming that No min,
ister knowingly after Que ..lq ~ ulIy, sllssi1 e1
solemnize the marriage OF any person VINO ,
has a divorced husband or wife sun -tv-
ing, if such husband or VIE mas peen put
away for any cause arising Allel "a mar r
riage. but this canon shall not be heid TO
apply TO the innocent party III a ulNotce
for the cause of adultery OF to parties
.sWhile an effort is thus being made by
resolution and injunction TO tone up 5i ths
duty and responsibility in this important
matter at the same time an euort IS De
islation regarding the subjects OF ~ ulNIltV -
and rema rriage. and to secure some uill-
formity Of legislation thereon as may pest
prom0te the purity Of society
..I{ere is undoubtedly the greatest need
Good Christians viii be governed by the
Word of God. but for tho majority q peo-
ME another law is needed. The divorce
laws enacted I'm many states ealitelN ,r,s us
rssg. ri the sarrcdness of marriage. Z his
is 4 eulDable mistake an Insult to elod ana
IA the dignity of our race as Wen as q
nerace to good order and decency. Our
legislators. like our ministers. neeu 10 9e
toned ND on this important ma tier
..Then there must be uniformity IN the
divorce laws OF the OlueltlN sttleS- 49,
and more is this need being reeogni4zss e. q
We are many states, but one nation II Us Is
the nations peace and prosperity that
should move us to this We can not as
ration be healthy and strong 50 iofs z =
even one state disregards the law OF Goa
ana the best interests of the race
To accomplish these deeply needed re-
forms to secure better divorce laws ana
have them uniform throughout the nation,
ana thus make brighter and better homes
77il4er and happier lives. is what the
church of Jesus Christ is just now seeking
t. bring about and viii some day accom-
ulish.