The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-16
WAR ON DIVORCES
MET AT DALLAS
AND PASSED RESOLUTIONS.
WANT OFFENDER DISCIPLINED.
Asked Legislature to Pass Laws Max
ing 1t Difficult to Secure Divorce
and More So to Remarry.

Dallas, Texas, Dec. 13.-At a meet
ing attended by representatives OF
practically every one of the great re-
ligious creeds and by many others
representing the leading professions
outside of the ministry, strong stand
against the divorce evil in Texas was
taken and an appeal made to the press
and pulpit to aid in the campaign IN
opposition to it, which, it is explained,
is to wage hencefOrth. The report or
special committee appointed at a
former meeting was adopted. 1t con-
tanned these recommendations
I. That the ministry of every re-
ligious body in the land be most ear
nestly urged, often and clearly, 10
teach their congregation the word OF
God upon the sacredness Of marriage
and the sanctity of the home; that
they steadfastly refuse to officlate at
any marriage between persons un"
scripturally divorced, and that they
teach their congregations that any
church member who violates the
Scriptural rule of divorce should be
disciplined for such offense.
SO. That the press, both religious
and secular, be invited to give its
great influence and power, editorially
and otherwise, to the advancement of
sound views on this subject. We be-
lieve that if the pulpit and the press
shall deal with this question fully and
faithfully better conditions must
speedily come for the home, the
church and the state.
"3. That the legislature of Texas
be urged at its next session to so
amend the present divorce laws as to
make it more difficult to secure d.
vOrce, and far more difficult to re-
marry; and that adequate punishment
may be melted out to those who, by in
fidelity to the marriage VOW or for
| other grave offenses, such as abandon
ment, dangerous brutal treatment, ha-
bitual drunkenness, etc, make divorce
under the laws possible, and that this
agitation be kept up with the hope
that not only better state laws may
be secured, but with the hope also
that some available and practical
method be discovered for securing un-
iformity on this question in the laws
of the various states.
"a. That this mass meeting today
appoint committee, made up of min
! listers and other citizens, whose duty
it shall be to lead in a movement for
the arousing and the establishing of
such public sentiment as will soon
be able to demand and enforce such
a remedy and lift up such a standard
on the divorce question as will be
for the highest interest of the home,
| the church and the state.
Respectfully submitted by the COM
mittee."
(Signed by George w. Truitt, Jas.
M. Hays, Chalmers Mcpherson and
John NJ Moore)
After some discussion as to the best
plan for selecting the committee, it
was decided that nine members should
be appointed from Dallas and nearby
towns, and this committee shall have
the power to apply such other mem
bers in different parts of the state
as it may see fit. The committee as
appointed consists of Rev. George ".
Truia, Father James NJ. Hayes, Chal-
mers Mcpherson, J. M. Moore J. w.
Caldwell, Mrs. E. P. Turner, Mrs. w.
A. Galloway, N. w. Finley and o. S.
baltimore of Fort Worth.