The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-13
CHURCHES UNITE TO FIGHT THE
DIVORCE EVIL.

u
DIVORCE EVIL.
That was an evidence of unity in
good works when Bishop Cheshire
was warmly received by the Methodist
Conference in session at Charlotte in
discussing the need of repeating the
loose divorce laws of North Carolina.
The churches ought to speak out
against the disgraceful increasing
number of divorces in North Carolina,
encouraged by loose laws.
1t is a good SIGN, too, for any cause
to see the churches touching elbow 70
elbow for the protection of the home.
There is no difference between Bishop
Duncan and Bishop Cheshire in desir-
ing to make sacred the marital rela-
tons and preserve the home. They
and their respective churches are in
perfect accord in the warfare they
wage against the present lax laws and
in their fight to repeal all the amend
. ments that have been added to The
Code. 1t would be well even to enact
a decenter and better law than was on
the statute books when Dortch, Mann
but that law was far nearer to the
Biblical and moral idea than the pres
ent statutes.
The war against lax divorce laws
will not be easily won. There was an
earnest attempt to repeal loose stat
utes made by the Legislature but it
failed. One young lawyer, talking con-
1 will not vote to take bread out of
my mouth. Fees for getting divorces
come more easily than any other. A
man or woman who wishes a di-
vorce will pay bigger fees than for any
other legal service and. if they cannot
get their divorce here, they will go to
some other State and North Carolina
lawyers will lose the good fees" That
was d low view to take of the matter
and it does not properly represent the
legal profession for the bulk of its
membership would not be influenced
by such sordid considerations. But it
is one lion in the path of reform.
The chief trouble in the way is in
the growing lax conception of the idea
of marriage ana the sanctity of the
home Marry in haste and repent at
leisure" is an outworn maxim in North
Carolina.
Marry in haste and get a divorce
next year is the maxim of the pres
ent day. The lack of home training is
largely responsible for this. Young
girls are permitted to accent attentions
from young men not known to their
fathers or mothers. who is that
young man with your daughter" was
asked of a lady at a theatre not long
ago. Il have no idea" replied the
mother, 81 often do not know the name
of my daughters callers" That is an
extreme ease of how parents neglect
high duty they owe their daughters.
With such lack of home direction, who
can wonder that girls make serious
mistakes in marriage and seek the
divorce courts? The first duty of
fathers and mothers is to be careful
of the character and standing of
young men received into their homes.
The old idea that a young man ought
to seek his wife in a home near
enough to his fathers for him to see
the smoke risin~ out of the chimney
has gone into innocuous desuetude be-
cause modern transportation has
brought the world closer together, but
the principle remains that young peo-
pie who marry should have abundant
opportunity to know each other and
the families ought to be on friendly
terms. There are very few divorces
from marriages that are heartily APP
proved by the parents of both the
parties and that have been founded
upon mutual love born of intimate
knowledge.
But While the main duty of the
parents and the preachers is to guard
well the approach to marriage, it is
the duty of the law to hell society
by not making it easy to dissolve the
ties. If people, know that they are
married for better or for worse" and
must abide the VOWS they have taken.
many differences will be adjusted and
settled that our divorce laws tend to
keep cause of contention. The causes
that lead to divorce are often born in
a supposed incompatbility of temper
ament. If divorce laws are rigid in
nine cases out of ten the parties will
find a common ground of agreement
and live long and happily together.
The President will now find it diff
cult to please the trusts who put up
big campaign fund and the people
who are robbed by the trusts. Under
which King, Benzonia, Speak or Die"