The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-11-11
TIE DIVORCE QUESTION.

" better 10 'enOurc the Ills We nave
or fly TO those We wot not Off" Churc
conferences are discussing il; 30 ar
the magazines, so are the newspapers
The evil. il it is an evil, is growing
hence the discussion.
A recent issue Of the st. Louis Re
public publishes two articles on tn,
subject, prepared with thoughtful ano
painstaking care especially for the
Republic. One by the 1T. Rev. Geo.
F. Nelson, Bishop of Georgia; the other
by Justice James A. Blanchard, of the
Supreme Court of New York.
It might be we'll to consider what i,
said and suggested by such eminent
authority. Just as too many people
jump into marriage without seriously
considering the question, 80 do some
jump into the divorce courts without
considering that phase of the question
And yet, Just as marriage is a
good thing sometimes, SO is divorce. For
there is no sorrow 80 hard to bear
az q living sorrow. And there is
no living load harder to carry than
for two people. utterly incompatible
Ia temperament and antagonistic to
each other by habit and disposition,
to be yoked together all the days of
their lives. 1t were pity under such
circumstances that one of the twain can
not 60 off and die, but they cannot al.
ways do that.
Bishop Nelson says:
"Like Banquo's ghost, the question OF
divorce will not down. 1t is one which af-
fects all sects, all classes and all races in
this great cosmopolitan Republic Of ours.
Churches hold conferences, canonical
laws are made, passed and amended and
the brains and religious fervency of
high ecclesiastics engage 10 polemical
pros and cons on the mighty question
OF the remarriage of the divorced; egis-
latures and able orators arise and
earnestly debate the ways and means of
controlling the hydra headed monster,
the divorce evil, which is devastating
homes, disrupting families and giving to
children plurality of parents all this
has gone on year after year, and today
we are no nearer solution than we we're
ten years ago.
1.-TWO hundred thousand divorces 10 a |
single year are cause for alarm, In |
which you feel not only sympathy but
vital share. Two hundred thousand |!
divorces mean that there is work for
women to do, for women of reverence
and heart and sympathy.
II am disposed to place more hope in
the character and determination of
American women than in the legislation
Of American men. Every self.respecting
woman must feel that she has place
and share in the right settlement of
this problem, which is burning out the
piety and peace and hope of American
life."
"Burning out the piety and peace and
hope of American life!' That is a
strong expression. Continuing, and still
addressing himself to women the Bishop
rays:
1--WE need not only your frown, but
,our determined and united oppo sition {
20 marriages for reforming drunkards,
for position, wealth or home
90 called), marriages de con yenance, and +,
III other marriages but such as Gods t
Word doth allow. Ii
"In the retired influence Of the Christ {
an home, in your open protests against '
he reformation of womankind, in a
MARKED difference In your admissions j
% social connections, in the training Of f
ons, in your influence over friends, both I
men and women, in your own unswerv- 6
ng resource, you possessa the means and i
Instruments to better the present state b
I affairs and to stem what seems to be a
tumultuous tempest which has arisen v
gainst the sacredness Of mother ii
ood." a
Justice Blanchard Of the Supreme ii
curt Of New York. says: O.
"During my twenty-five years OF Il
enersl practice only acted as attorney fe
/ two divorce casee, and then because c,
considered 1t was my duty to help a
70 women whom knew to be oppres v,
ID to gain their freedom. :
"At present there is divorce case be.
re me where the woman has suffered !.
kinds OF indignities at the hands Of ;
. being who in the eyes of the law is (
,r husband. She has been beaten z
cked, starved, turned out OF doors. 3
0 you not think that woman is entitled 2
@ divorce? do. g
"But there would be fewer divorces IL 3
omen would only conform with the e
riptural mandate-obey! (The scrip :
raj mandate, mind you.) A woman 3
ould look up to her husband as the =
ad OF the house, the breadwinner, the g