The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-11
THE DIVORCE EVILS
PASS MORNONIS1N
BISHOP EDSALL
FEELS STRONGLY
Forbids Clergy to Marry Divorced
Persons Except Under Ger
tain Conditions. -'

The anti-divorce campaign, which
representative or religious denomln-
atoms are planning in their confer
ence in Philadelphia, will be taken UP
and pushed vigorously in Minnesota,
especially by the Protestant Episcopal
church. The ideas presented at the
Philadelphia meeting are embodied
in the appeal, which will be sent
broadcast thru the country for the
creation of sentiment against the "d1-
vorce evil" are In consonance with
the Ideas Of Bishop S. G. EdsaI, who
already has taken a decided step In
the direction pointed out by the cam
paigners-to discourage divorces and
to prohibit remarriage after a legal
separation has been obtained.
Bishop Edsall has issued an order
to his clergy which Is intended to pre-
vent any evasion Of the canon of the
church which recognizes only adul-
terry as ground for divorce. Each min
lister Is instructed not to perform a
ceremony uniting in marriage a
couple, either Of whom has been di-
vorced, until he has seen a certified
copy Of the decree of divorce Of a
court of competent jurisdiction. So
long as the laws of the state and OF
the church remain as they are, it will
be impossible to go any further than
this.
In an interview with T h Jour-
nal, Bishop Edsall expressed his ap-
prevail of the campaign against the
divorce system, which he said was, in
fact consecutive polygamy," and
worse than the polygamy Of Mormon
ism, because a Mormon could not
shift from himself the responsibility
Of his wife and children by obtaining
court decree. The system, he said,
w
the nation. The bishop said that In his
diocese everything possible would be
done to teach the people. the evils that
are apparent to all patriotic Chris
tians, and to effect legislation that
would abate them. Within the next
year considerable preaching will be
done by the Episcopalian ministers on
the subject .-''.''.'
A Hopeful Sign.
1.-THE movement to secure united
action, 80 far as may be possible,
among the various Christian religious
bodies in America upon the subject OF
divorce and remarriage after divorce"
said Bishop Edsall, lis one Of the most
hopeful movements in the direction of
preserving the institution Of the fam
lily and the consequent purity and sta
bility Of American life which has ever
engaged the attention of sur people.
''FIistory shows that the decay of
nation has invariably followed upon a
disregard of the integrity Of the fam
lily, and Of the sacredness Of mar
riage. The marriage Of one man and
of one woman for life alone gives
permanence to the family relation
which Is necessary for the right train
ing Of children. 1t Is In the family
that there is first developed that prln,
= ciple Of love, seff-Sacrif1ce and mutual
helpfulness which lies at the basis OF
q well ordered society ...,.
"The husband who labors for. the
creation of home, for the protection
of his wife, and for the shelter anc
nurture of his children, Is pursuing
the divine principle Of spending hi:
life that others may live. The self
sacrifice Of the wife who cheers ant
comforts her husband and who ere
ates a happy home in which children
are born and reared on lines Of love
obedience, respect for authority anc
tender regard for each others welfare
Is performing the greatest service
which can be rendered by any individ
ual for humanity. ..-
Family Basis of Social Life.
I'm short, the family Is the true ba
sis of all social life. On it rests the
welfare of the nation and the true
progress Of humanity. Hence 1t Il
that the family, rather than the IN
dividual, should be regarded as thu
true unit of society. Hence 1t is, also
that the preservation and welfare o
the integrity and unity Of the famil.
transcend in Importance the rights o
the Individual.
Where such principles as the abov
are recognized it will be granted tina
rected towards the conservation of tn
family rather than in afford1ng I'm
limited relief to individuals from evil
which may come to them In the mar
ried state. We may we'll reeogniz
that conditions may arise which ma
render intolerable for man or
woman the maintenance of the mar
riage relation. 1t Is doubtless neces
sary that the law should afford op
portunity for q legal separation i
such cases. Such separations shoul
not be made too easy, or lightly en-
couraged It Is better that peopl
should be taught to bear and forbea.
1T will not make for the developmer
of human character to make too cas-
the escape from the responsibility {
married life simply because they hay
become irksome.
Evil in Remarriage.
"But the great evil which no
threatens our country does not arts
from the fact that our laws perm
the separation Of man and wife fc
certain necessary causes; but in tn
fact that remarriage is permitted I
the parties after their separation.
is in this matter of remarriage ths
Is found most of the evils which al
threatening the destruction Of Amer
lean family life.
"Too often the trouble which cause
the separation between husband an
wife arises because there is a poss
bility of marriage to some other
a divorce Is obtained. The disgrace
full incidents which follow the gran
ing Of DEGREES Of divorce, where
a so-oalled marriage follows with
IA few days the gaining Of a deere
show what is the true motive f
many Of the divorces which are sougl
and obtained.
1T is an abuse Of the word to ca
such a second reunion, or it may
third or fourth reunion, ma
rage The system is one of consec1
tive polygamy. It is worse in mora
than the polygamy Of Mormonisl
The polygamy Of Mormonism has
least the redeeming trait that ii
husband cannot escape from the r
sponsibilities which he has assurn,
In the support of wife and childre
Bad as it is, therefore, it is not
unspeakably base and disgusting, n
SO hopelessly sordid and selfish as
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