The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-17
TO SETTLE DIVORCE
Meeting Here Today of
Committees of the
Churches.

by the committee of the various re-
upon the question of the laxity of the
existing divorce laws in force in the
State plans of the religious elements
of the State in this regard viii be
definitely formulated and provision
made for actively prosecuting the
fight.
As has been matter Of long COM
ment, the present law is Il mixture of
various measures which have been
from. time to time introduced in al
most every instance TO meet specific
cases of hardship. the result being
the picce-meal compilation of Il set
of statutes which have rendered the
granting of divorces by the courts 4
matter of ever increasing commons
placeEess of occurrence. The divorce
procedure has become easy for the APP
plicanta ana imperative upon the
courts, and this With scarcely IA de-
sign OF that condition on the part OF
the state law making body. As the
law became better known the evil has
Increased; and, as in the case of all
Developments which aid q purpose,
the suggested repeats OF statutes de-
viSed 10 meet exceptional cases has
met with scattered but effective OPP
position from other exceptions de-
srouS of obtaining the benefits OF the
Jaw in their particular cases which it
was admitted was bad for the public
at large. SO the matter of divorce
reform has drifted until during the
past yearthe churches. under the ac-
tive leadership Of Bishop Cheshire.
took UP the matter, enlisted the at
tention Of the public TO the situation
and are now prepared TO carry the
matter for definite decision to the
Legislature
The meeting today. which will be
attended by committees appointed
from the several diocese of the 1pis-
copal. the two conferences of the
Methodist churches. the Baptist con-
Vention an dthe Presbyterian synod
VIII arrange the deti9ls OF the agita-
ton which is to be begun before the
General Assembly and it is under
stood that the keynote of their de-
mands will be pitched upon the re-
peal of all laws which were passed
with respect to divorce subsequent TO
the Code of 1889 In addition to a
general discussion of the question of
divorce in legislation, the meeting viii
appoint of its members one each from
the several church bodies represent
ed who will be the active representa-
tives of the movement outside of the
Legislature in the discussion Of the
divorce measures before the commit
tees and in urging the passage ofthe
DIS which meet with their approval
before the houses themselves The re-
preventative of the three EDiScopal
bodies will be Hon. John s. Henler-
son. OF Rowan, who is admirably fitted
ny long legislative experience 10 be
the leader of the fight and OF the de-
bate OH the question. The representa-
tiVes of the other church bodies re-
presented have not vet been selected
Rev. DR.. lSey and Rev. DR.. Tyree of
Raleigh, While not members of either
ot-the committees. nave been invited
TO participate With the body and will
be i'm attendance at todays meeting
The Personnel of the Committees.
l. glance at the names OF the gem
tlemen composing the several commit
tees rs set out below viii shoy that
the joint conference is composed Of Il
magnificent body of able men
The committees appointed by the va
nous religious bodies Of the State
I'll. ch are urging this legislation are
as follows:
North Carolina Dioce.e-.The Bishop
of North Carolina, Rev. pr. Mafshall,
rev. .Engle. of Henderson; Arch -dea-
con Osborne, of Charlotte: Hon j. \
Henderson, of Salisbury: Hon Henry
=. London, of Plttsboro; Hon F. s.
Spruill, Of Louisburg; ex-Ch eff Justice
Jas. +. Shepherd, CT Raleigh.
Eastern Carolina Diocese Rev. Or.
Carmichael, D.. Drane, of Edenton
Hon. Thos. w. BlounC, Of Beaufort
Rev. George G. Royal. Hon. @ Lamb
of Williamston
AShcville Diocese REV. Dr. DuBose,
Of Raleigh; and Revs. Deal and Pat
ton, of Ashev.lle.
synod OF North Carolina-Rev Jno
~ Rose, of Laurlnburg; DR.. A. IT, Mo-
s1ent, OF Raleigh: Rev 4. < Camp
fN..II T
els +. Ven0 bic, of the University; Hen
I. T. Canister, of Charlotte; Rev + g
iiaIl.
Eastrn n. c. Conference Rev. Dr.
=. 4. Yates Rev. w H. Moore, Hon
Thomas j. Jarvis
Western Y. c. Conference rev. -
=. Turentine. DR.. Fl. T. ChrietZburg
OF Winston; Rev, James Atkins Rev
J. W. Clegg.
Baptist Convcntion-Re living
stone Johnson of Raleigh: Editor
w. Bailey, of the Biblical Recorder
hon. I. M. Arlington, Of Rocky Mt. !
". n. Jones' Esq, of Raleigh, aldI
Rev. $. d. Hale.
Today's meeting was called under
the impression that the divorce ques-
ton would be taken up this afternoon |
by the House judiciary Committee. !
1t MAY still be that this will be the |
case out at yesterdays meeting Of /
the committee it was decided To post |
pone consideration of the two divorce !
measures pending, The bill OF Mr. |!
stewart of Harnett, and that of Mr.. |
McNinch. of Mecklenburg. for few |
days. This action was taken by the
committee in ignorance of the meeting |
of the church bodies set for this after |
noon. Bishop Cheshire when tele-
phoncd last night, stated that he had I
called the meeting in pursuance of |
that he had received that
the bills would be considered today,
il was then too late to notify the
various members not to come and that
he would see the members OF the
Judiciary Committee today to asCer-
tain whether q meeting could not be
held. AS the members of the corr
mittee and the representatives of the
churches are working towards the one
end of coming to wise solution of !
the pu2ling divorce conditions now
the meeting of the commit
tee will probably be obtained in spite
of yesterdays conclusion not to take
up the matter at once.
Hall OF Records Needed