The Irish standard., 1903-06-06
TO FIGHT DIVORCE.
New York Ministers Unite to Wage
War on Present Day Evil.
Expected That Pastors Of All DenOm-
nations, Including the Roman
Catholic, Will he Enlisted
in the Campaign.

At a secret meeting held recently
in New York city, at which leading
men from the Protestant Episcopal
and Methodist Episcopal and presby-
terrain churches were present, it was
decided to enter upon Il vigorous
campaign against divorce.
1t was in accordance with the de-
cision reached by this meeting that
Il letter was addressed to Archbishop
Farley, of the Roman Ca1holicchurch,
asking his cooperation in the move-
ment. Neither temperance. Sabbath
breaking, smoking nor gambling has
suiiced to bring the Protestant and
the Roman Catholic churches upon a
F! common platform, but upon this is
, sue of divorce it has been decided to
attempt to bring all religious sects
together.
a preliminary conference WIS held
in ST.. Eartholomew's church. On be-
half of the Episcopal church there
were present Bishop Doane, of AL
bany. the bishop of Maryland and
| the bishop of Rhode Island, who is
also the presiding bishop of the
=, Protestant Episcopal church in Amer
lea, the Rev. Dr. Greer, The rector OF
st. Bartholomew's, the Rev. Drs. Full
ton and Eccleston. and Messrs. Fran
els. Lynda, Stetson and Branfold. The
| Presbyterian church was represented
by the Rev. William Henry Roberts,
the stated clerk of the Presbyterian
general assembly: the Rev. DR..
Charles A. Dickrv, and the Rev. Drs.
McIlvainc, NicoIlcs. an'l McCaughnn
Judge tanning and John Z. Parsons
Il New York lawyer. For the Meth
| odSt church were present Bishop b.
G.. Andrews. DR.. Kelley and Judge
Reynolds.
The Rev. DR.. Roberts, who was
elected secretary of the general com
mittee, WAS directed to communicate
with the other denominations to invite
them to a further conference. 1t is tC
this second conference that Archbishop
Farley is invited.
81 believe we are now on the road
to accomplish some real results in
fighting the divorce evil" said Bishop
|
last few years has been eating away al
the vitnls of he American home. I be
leve. through such an interdenomina
tional plan as is here proposed. mucl
can be accomplished. We cannot ex
poet to attack the evil effectively
through new laws, either civil or &c
clesin< ical. We must influence public
sentiment. That is what this union o
churches proposes TO do
The Rev. William O'Bren Pardow. O
the Jesuit college. one of he stronges
opponents nf divorce. addressed the an
nual meeting of se Manhattanvill,
Pupils association at the Convent O
the Sacred Heart Il few days ago on thi
subject.
Social ostracism." said Father Par
dow, ''is the only way to meet the di
vorce question. The church laws hay,
failed to meet it. for you people brea1
them without hesitation when you S,
desire. The laws of the state hav
failed also"
Father Hayes. secretary for Arch
bishop Farley. said: 81 know Arch
bishop Farley is glad to see the Prot es
tant churches preparing to takca firm
er stand against divorce. but do no
see how he can enter into any confer
: ence on the subject except for he pur
pose OF advising adherence to the fixe,
rule of the Roman Catholic church."