New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-29
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
FAvoRs DIVORCE FOR ONE CAUSE.
Attack on Position Taken by Dr.. Greer at
Episcopal Conference.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Your report IN t0-dJy's issue OF the con-
ference OF Representatives Of various Protestant
denominations on the divorce question held yester-
day at St Bartholomew's Parish House. contains
the statement that CoadJutor Bishop Greer de-
nounced divorce and remarriase. and declared that
the marriage bond was severed only by death
Without entering into any discussion as 20 the
merits Of the resolution passed at the conference
/ affirm that the position attributed to Dr. Greer
I'm the statement just quoted Is at once uuscript-
UraI anti-Protestaut. untenahle and absurd. ana
coming from one who was 'the author. or al
least a main supporter. OF the resolutions passed
by the conference. ought Of itself 70 lay these
resolutions open to the stricest scrutiny and sus
plcon as TO their true nature and tendency.
Il is a fact which. believe. no one Will deny
that the prevailing deplorabls conditions in regard
20 marriage and divorce exist in face OF the canon
Inv Of the Episcopal Church. and OF the teaching
Of nearly all other Protestant denominations. and
that these conditions are really due 20 the too linn
tied range OF the Church's influence on society at
large In a word. II the law OF the Church, as II
enforced such. Instead OF each state haFlnS ~
would Se am incaIcuiabis ameiioration OF social
conditions throughout the country What then, IN
scriptural and Christian standpoint? -
Under the Mosaic law SLLe Pe.4',is ~ - - 49,
Woman was death. (See Isviticus 10; Deuter-
SSt ygen4ity OF course lsf5 the survivor as free
20 remarry as though ne or sae had t never OTyiI
der the more merciful Christian regime me crinl-
nails life is spared the injured party SnaL 3e ri y
VIII any one deny that this would establish q
tyieue and Righteousness al nbitum? Eminently
favorable indeed. would such situation 6e Tor me
Apostle Paul in the words, "Of such are they who
Green into houses and lead captive silly women,
laden with sins, led away With divers Lusts' I'll
me 1iaH truth is tina, nadeity Is and must be
the one and only justfying cause Tor absolute 81
vorce At the same time We have II on our Lord
mems hearts. allowed them 70 put away their
wives for other causes tLaI III ''i It a, EEL
Us TO inquire. IL is however. 10 this latter class
&pS S PaGi refSfred 10 in Matthew v g. xix
Q. and I Corinthians vii. 10 and H. when prohIoit-
future marriage The hrst OF these passases readS,
II say unto you th,sI ever T one S S fSTnicStior
maketb her an aduIteress and whatsoever sgaI
tery (heylseq HeISolR - a. nor @aiiIterv''
ting away It must refer 70 an offence COMMITTEES
in the single state; e. prior 70 H,t[IIas+ +,S me ,
marriage though its crimnaIity Is greatly en-
divorce. Allowing this restricted meaning to the
word in the original however-which IS more man s
gotten that the Mosaic law. as above stated. was
In tuH force when our LORD utJe+eb Je hem fII
aware-and that the enforcement OF tnat law, n
far more effectual putting away than any mere mere
Sveranee or TIE maIriage 6onq e4u 80 90, AM AMI
tai crime. among the Jews il still remains that
II the lighter offence. committed before marriage,
would justify separation afteTward-aS BISHOPS
Doane and Greer admit Christs teaching
a fOrttori, the gTaver crime must entail a similar
penalty Instead OF this however, these men would
VISIT the minor offence with severe punishment
while allowing the major practical IMMUNITY.
II Is held that divorce and remarriage were IN
known in the early Christian Church. This speaks
well indeed, for the morals and family life OF the
rrst Christians but DENY that any other inference
can be drawn from the fact n such Il ls
Inc true remedy for evils OF class under
consideration lies. first in raising the moral tone
out the Church's mission IN the world. II she has
any-and second, in the establishment OF a uni
form divorce law throughout the country. such
law as shall be in conformity with the teaching