The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-23

and 1t ta an evil which szescts the vsry best and dsarsst interests Of our civii- izatioh. h . few states ftis very dif- ncutt to procure divorce for any oauss, while tn others 1t is as easy to dissolve ths' marriaes tie as it is, for { business compensation or company to bs dissolved. There seems to be a total absence of any fesiins of sscredfssu In the matter. when . couple become dissatisfied for any cAuss. or become tired of living together. they apply to the court and are disunitsd ~ith Iittis delay CT difhcuity. Prncticaily nota- ing Is necessary but desire to be le- gally separated; the process ia easy and expeditions.
 We do not doubt that the refusal or indisposition of the Episcopal Church to celebrate marriages whtrs one party is divorcee tends to discour- age divorce. and so far Is productive of good. where the divorce was for trivial cause. or for cause not consid- cred adequate by the church; bat 1t must be borne in mind that this only extends to those of that faitR and cannot influence people of other de- nominations. os of no denomination. They will be divorced and rsuarrfsd as long as the process is as easy and con- venient as is now the case.
 After all. would it not be better to go back little further and make mar riage at first little less easy and . little more solemn than it now is7 In some States mere boy and girl, who ought to be in school. run away and find some one ready to marry them without hesitancy and almost without any question. The contracting par. ties may be totally unsuited to each other, totally unhtted for the solemn duties of married life. and with little or no conception of the importance of the step they are taking. Is 1t to be, wondered at in such case. if they speedily have their eyes opened and find that they have made great mis- itake7 We think not. nor is 1t strange that they seek the first opportunity to throw of obligations which they should never have assumed. And this is but one case where people marry in haste and repent at leisure." There are many others where the marriage Is imprudcnt. to say the least of it, and where the result is dissatisfaction. misery and eventual separation of the parties.
 It would be we'll If the churches of all denominations would endeavor to inculcate in the minds of the young that marriage is one of the most sol- emn of all human obligations, not to be entered into lightly and unthink- ingly, but after due thought and prep aration, and with due knowledge of the duties adhering to the marriage state. Teach the young and thought less that marriage is not a frolic, to be entered into today and put off to- morrow, but that it should be a life contract in which both the contracting parties are equally bound, equally in- terested and under. equal obligations to observe the conditions they volun- tarily assume when they enter into the agreement and seal 1t before the altar. The church may discourage divorce by refusing to marry divorced persons. and It can also do much good by im- pressing on all the grave and solemn importance of the marriage obligation. So shall there be fewer unhappy mar riages. fewer divorces and less cause of disagreement over the propriety or impropriety of remarriase.