Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-22


went into another state. got a divorce
and there remarked. or course the
state OF his former residence did not
recognize the second marriage.
Time passed on. aud this husband
tired OF bis second wife. lie moved to
another state. got a divorce and mar
ried third wife. The marital disease
with him by this time was becoming
chronic. But now neither the first nor
the second state where be used to live
recognized his third marriage as legal.
Time passed, and this husband OF
many wives died. What was the re-
suit? Each OF his former marital COM
panions Inherited the property Of the
dead man which then existed In her
own stated BY law that man I'm three
different states left three different
wives, each a legal wife In her own
state. but illegal in the other two
states. Such is an instance Of the
ridiculous and infinite absurdities ex-
listing between the conflicting divorce
courts OF our land. But there must be
leg0 Shange. The divorce question
will never be dealt with as II should be
SO long as married woman living In
New York city can so and spend few
weeks in q western state and then take
train and so back to her old home
another mans wife. Concerted legal
action rrust be established between the
states. 1t Is you, Christian people. to
whom God assigns the duty OF arousing
public sentiment against this evil and
compelling our national and state legis-
laters to take such action as will result
in making the marriage altar some
thing more than a mere mockery.
Flood OF National Infamy.
A second breakwater to dam back
this submerging food Of national In
fanny: II is for the gospel ministers to
protest against il by practice as well
as by preaching. The pulpit cannot
speak loudly and with ths voice OF
true leader unless at the same tine Ii
refuses to become a party TO the ma
tional crime OF easy divorce. What do
/ mean by this statement7 That the
minister himself shall not be a blatant
and a brutal Divorce? oh, no. No self
respecting Christian church would al
lew Der minister to continue preaching
In her pulpit after q divorce escapRds.
Paul writes, "A bishop must be blame
less. the husband OF one wife" No
minister's life can be biamsless when
he turns his back upon his Arst wife
for an unjust cause But do mean
this: A minister should not ofieiate at
the second marriage Of a divorcee IN
less he himself knows positively that
the divorced man was not culpable In
the swapping OF the marital bonds. BY
such a ministerial course public senti-
pent would be aroused against this ma
tional evil. and aroused quickly and
permanently.
have taken only lately this stand in
reference to the clergyman's RESPONSE
bihty. Like hundreds aud thousands
OF other ministers I have heretofore
said TO myself; 81 am not In any way
compelled to look into the personal char
acters OF those whom I unite In mar
risge. When I used TO live In New
York state had TO ask ne contracting
parties long list OF questions and
make a report to the county officials In
reference to the same. But In the state
or Illinois the clerk OF the county court
does that. He asks the questions. He
gives the license. He 80 responsible
for the marriage, and not l." But a
short time ago. when talking to a
brother minister upon the subject, he
said: You are wrong. You cannot
shirk your responsibility In that way"
Then I commenced 10 look at this re-
sponsibility In another way. I said to
myself: Yes. am wrong. That coun-
~ clerk cannot tell me what ought
TO do. The paper he sends to me is only
license, governmental privilege, per-
hitting me 90 marry the parties n /
wish. i am not compelled so to do.
For instance: The saloon keeper gets a
city license and has the privilege OF
selling me q glass or whisky. But be-
cause II Is lawful for me 70 buy whisky
from, him that IN no reason why Il
should drink IL. Because the sporting
element OF San Francisco gets a CITY
license for holding a prize nght that is
no reason why 1 am compelled to TO
and witness two pugiliHts batter each
others face into pulp. Because Chi
cago gives license to gamblers to open
race track that Is no reason why n
should go and patroniEe the bookmak.
ers- Because the county clerk tells me
that can remarry a libertine, who has
been -sinfully divorced. that Is no roa.
son why I should tarnish the good
name Of my church by placing such n
black record upon the session books.
NO. no, my brother ministers, We cannot
thus shirk our responsibilities. You and
1 are responsible before God when we
become Officiating parties In the mar.
riages OF divorced persons. A religious
marriage means infinitely more than a
mere civil contract. IL not. why do
nearly all people desire to be married
py q clergyman instead OF by a police
justice or county judgef
RssyoAstbtfity OF Minaster.
We IRE responsible as ministers. A
legal divorce. In ninety nine csses out
OF hundred. is not sufncient ground
Tor church divorce. We must remem.
Der that the minister before the world
stands as the representative OF the
church Why. legal divorces are efteu
obtained on the fimsies< excuses.
bishop Fallcws. In a scathing attack
upon this marital evil. quotes some OF
the most absurd and trivial causes on
account OF which men and women have
been divorced. One woman got a ioral |
divorce because her Husband enlisted
In The United States navy; another be- |
casss her husband smoked and e.vs
her headaches; another because her
husband called her sister thief; an
other hecsuse hsr husband did not like |
her front hair and cut part or Il OF. |
one husband secured a divorce be-
cause his wife refused to sew on his
buttons; another because he told his
wife he had found another woman
whom be could love better. Think OF
any minister being guilty or such a
heineus sin as to marry such Divorces
10 other marital partners. II is high
time for us ministers to band together
Ind rouse public sentiment upon this
question. By our actions as well as
BY our preaching we must protest
against this national crime. We must |.
10 this because church marriage be- I