The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
you yon, SO yyorthily represent in a rather

S s9a SO YP Poaityyn represent in S rather
Nor is this oil. A "non-Christian mar
rage may be dissolved even after con-
summation. OF this we have had recent
example in the case Of a lady who, though
divorced from her husband. was married
| 70 another in st. Patrioks Cathedral, New
YORK IL was said In the public press that
Archbishop Farley submitted the case to
the ecclesiastical court of the archdiocese.
which decided that Az Mr. -, the former
husband, had never been baptized the
contract with him was void, and Mrs. --
was, In the eyes OF the Church. a woman
who had never contracted marriage Such
a principle as this seems to us TO strike at
the very heart Of the family. since 1t renders
illegitimate the children OF the marriage
thus declared null by the Church, and puts
their mother in the position of one who
has lived all those years In an Illicit relation
with one who was not her husband
There were not few In the recent con-
vention of the PROTESTANT Episcopal Church
who urged that body 10 change its ground
and adopt at least In a modified form. the
Roman principle OF absolute indissolubility.
This, however, the convention refused to
do. and | think it was largely influenced
in reaching this decision by what seemed to
many the practical failure of the principle
Of indissolubility where it has been in
force TO secure the purity OF the home and
the stability OF the family.
Thus in England and generally in the West
in the ages preceding the Reformation. while
marriage was held to be indissoluble. yet,
in the opinion OF some of the most learned
and impartial historians. AS a matter Of
tact what were supposed 10 be marriages
we're dissolved with very great rapidly
and ease-a rapidity and ease OF which
We have no idea lin England at present.
Further. from all the evidence available
IL did not appear that the results were
favor able in our own age in many Of the
countries where your Clurch Ia supreme
or predominant, The evidence did not
show that the principle Of indissoubility
I'D made the homes Of the people in the
Vest indies, or in Mexico. or in South
Amrrica, or in the Philippine Islands. or
even in France or Spain or Italy, purer or
Deter than tho average that was to be
found in England and the United States.
a gentleman OF the highest character. who
had lived at least thirty years in the cty
of Rome publicly declared that in his
opinion family life in the United States
was much purer than in the Eternal City
itself, and that marital fidelity was by no
means 80 general In Italy "a in tho United
States in spite OF the appalling prevalence
Of divorce in the latter country, My rea-
son for referring to these countries which
are wholly or predominantly Roman
Catholic in religion, must be obvious.
better and more scientific test OF principle
Is found where that principle has free and
unhindered scope than where it is working
side by side with diverse or antagonistic
principles.
l trust that your Eminence will not mis-
understand my motives in addre ssing this
letter to you or the line of discussion which
have followed. / have desired TO clear
up serious misapprehension of the pTinci-
pies upon which the Episcopal Church has
recently acted and, incidentally. to vindi-
cate her claim to be as conscientious and
effective guardian of the home and the
sacredness Of the family relation as any
church on earth. I am, your Ernnenoe's
-iost obedient servant.
RANDOLPH II. MoHIM.
Washln gton. d. C., Dec. 70. 1904.