The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-30

very truly says that .the church can do
little to prevent divorce except through
religious instruction. But we must 80 a
step further than simple religious in
structior. We must show that we be-
ileve our Instruction is scrlptural by refus-
Ing to call men christians who ignore
the commandments of Christ Should all
the denominations In cfristendom abso-
lutely refuse to admit any persons into
their communion who have been divorced
for other than the scrptural ground
there would be the same tonlng up OF
public sentiment as there has been on
the liquor question, and. whereas deacons
and elders and prominent christian men IN
former days sold liquor, but nov such
persons are rarely found In any Protest
ant Communion, and the liquor business
Is under a ban, Just SO persons living III
adultery. under the guise OF legal
divorce, would not be found among our
church members. and would gradually be
spurned by society and unable TO assoc
ciata width decent people.
The present situation is appalling. Men
and women in the so-called highest cir
cles OF society violate all the La s 81
chastity and common deceilcy and retain
their outward responsibility by means Of
the divorce court and n so-called re-
marriage with tho very partners OF their
guilt.and shame. The law says they arc
married, and, II the church allows them
to claim membership. why ahould they
think that they have done anything wrong
when the church, as well as the state
both wink at their evil deeds. The inevl-
table result follows public conscience Is
debauched, ana Chrst's standard OF pur-
ity Is replaced by the standard OF a
conventional society, honeycombed with
sensunlity md RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The writer Is fully satisfied that the
relation OF the church to the divorce qies-
ton Is not bounded by the passage Of a
law restricting the ministry in the mat
ter Of performing the marriage ceremony,
but that the most important relation of
the church to the divorce question per-
tnins to the law Of the church in refer
ence TO the matter Of church membership.
Feeling this to be So at the session OF
tho Virginia Conference, held In Newport
News In 1901, he presented a memorial call
ding upon the General Conference ito
enact such legislation az will prevent
guilty persons divorced for other than
scriptural grounds from holding member
ship in our church," This memorial was
passed by the Virginia Conference, but
was not acted upon by the General Con-
ference. He expects TO offer the same
memorial to, be presented at the next
session Of the General Conference and
hopes that the Methodist Church will
place itself squarely on record as re-
garding all such alliances az adulterous
and as refusing to recognize as members
OF the church any persons guilty OF such
practices.
In writing the above the whole qucs-
ton has been considered from the script
ural standpoint. The words OF Jesus and
Paul have been taken as the decree Of
the court Of last resort. But, should any
one be disposed to question the justice
OF such position and should Insist that
there are individual cases to which the
general law could not be applied without
great Injustice. 1t could be clearly demon
strated that the good Of the individual
and Of society are both 30 bound UP in
the family that men and women must
be willing to hear the consequences OF
their own mistakes. and to suffer and to
practice great self denial in order that tho
foundations OF family life may remain
firm and mistaken. It may be possible
to discuss this phase Of the matter at
later time.