The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-05-11
The Church War on Divorce.
Literary Digest.

A church conference on divorce was
held in st Bartholomew's Parish
House, New York, 8 few days ago.
Ten Protestant bodies were repre-
sented, and Archbishop Farley, of the
Roman Catholic Church, wrote a
letter to Bishop Doane declaring his
sympathy with the objects of the
gathering. The discussion Of divorce
problems by the ministers present led
to the expression of many differing
views; but unity of action was secured
in the adoption of the following
resolution, offered by Bishop Greer:
"That, in recognition of the comfy
which should exist between Christian
churches, it is desirable, and would
tend to increase the spirit of unity, for
each church represented in the
conference to advise, and, if authori ty
will allow, to enjoin its ministers to
refuse to unite in marriage any person
or persons whose marriage the minis
ters have good reason to believe is
forbidden by the laws of the church in
which either party seeking to be
married holds membership"
This tentative agreement" is
regarded by The Living Church (Mil-
waukee, Prot. Episc.) as "an indica-
ton of progress and a happy augury
of a new crusade against at
least the grosser sins againtt
the inyiolability of the mar
riage tie'. The Boston Con-
gregationalist, on the other hand,
declares that "however admirable this
may be theoretically, it has practical
aspects which make anything like
general acceptance of it somewhat
doubtful" And the New York Inde-
pendent comments:
''This resolution sounds fraternal,
and is generally approved in its spirit;
and yet we question if it does not 60 too
far. 1t is aimed at the renaarriage of
divorced persons, and yet it does not
mention them directly, but formulates
rule which has much wider appli-
cation. Thus the Roman Catholic is
one of Christian churches That
church has q well-known law forbid
ding marriage with nom Cat holics'.
But what Protestant minister would
feel himself obliged to help execute
that law? Under this resolution no
Protestant could be married to Cath
olic, except by Catholic priest, and
q strict promise that the children of
the union should all be brought up
Catholics. That may be good law for
the Catholic Church to enforce, but
not one for Protes tant church to en-
force.
"The subject is one Of tremen dous
Importance, but we shall have first to
thrash out that question before the bar
of public opinion as to what are the
proper causes, in the interest of family
life, for divorce. We slre convinced
that the law in South Carolina, which
allows no divorce at all, or the
law Of New York, which allows
divorce only for dultery, will
not command the assent of the
Christian conscience generally. Al
present the first hope ,ful legislation
appears to be in the line of the exam
pie sci by Deleware, w hich is intend
ed to prevent migrations for the sake
of divorce, and which provides that ne
divorce shall be granted for any cause
arising prior to the residence of tht
petitioner in the State. unless tha
were also ground Of divorce in the
State, where it arc sc. Further, Con
gress might we'll establish a commits
sion to investigate the subject ane
recommend legisla ton for the Terri
tories. Such a commission Nigh
work In harmony with unpaid stat
commissions aires .dy exi sting, who's
work moves too lowly."
The Roman Catholic Mess enge
(NeW York, ApriD ffers the following
statistics, prepare I'd by the Rev. B. j..
Often, S. j., and showing tn