The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-19
BISHOP STRANGE ON DIVORCE
LEGISLATION.

The sentiment for repeating all
loose divorce statutes is very strong
in North Carolina-stronger even
than Tie vote on the McNincn substi-
tute in the House, gratifying as that
was, to all who see the growing laXity
OF the MARRIAGE tie. We have pub
of all the religious bodies in the State
which constitute a petition that de-
serves the highest consideration.
IN February 18th, the editor of
this paper received from Rev. Robert
Strange, the new Bishop Of the Icpis-
copal Church in Eastern North Caro-
lima, private letter with reference
In this important matter. 1t con-
tains So much wisdom that Bishop
Strange has complied with our re-
quest to permit its publication. The
letter is as follows:
Wilmington, N. c., Feb. IL, 1905.
"Hon. Josephus Daniels, Raleigh,
n. c.:
Dear Sir I thank YOU for your
editorial on divorce this morning.
Keep the pressure on. | think your
point on hard cases is we'll made.
Hard cases make bad laws" is, !
think, the common saying. All gen
eral laws work hardship sometimes
against the individual but the in
dividual must suffer for the general
good. 1t generally happens that,
when you pass a specific law to APP
ply to a class, moved thereto by SYM
pathy for a suffering individual. the
others in that class make use of the
remedy without just cause, and SO
lower the general tone Of society and
also bring more suffering into human
hearts than was endured by the first
individual for whom that law was
passed.
Better / think it would be, for
public morality and for domestic
purity and happiness that the Legisla-
ture should relieve q suffering iudi-
svidual by name and only the one in
Individual, than by passing law APP
'plying to class In apparently the
same condition. and go adding to the
causes for divorce. Gods laws work
DIN steadily for the general welfare.
thking no account of the individual
Who opposes or disregards them,
whether Intentionally or iSnorantly;
therefore, men and women take note
of these laws, study them and adapt
their lives to them.
MEMS laws are the nearest to
Gods and SO best for men, when they
lay down great principles. which
they are satisfied are best for the
common good, trusting that men will
consider them and adjust their lives
to them, realizing that one great way
Of making men and women 1--we &C
cording to these laws is the sight or
the personal knowledge of the suffer-
ing that comes from disregarding
Them
Divorce Il vinculo only for adul-
terry is Scriptural. The words of our
Lord Christ make that plain. It is
philosophical. The family is the unit
of civilization; our Anglo-Saxon, our
Southern home is the fair jewel of
our highest civilization. The only
cause in the nature of the case that
can break in pieces that unit and
shiver that jewel Is adultery. The
law ought here to work with the ma
ture Of man and the constitution or
the family.
at is best for high public morality
and for human progress ana nappl-
ness. This can be proved from his
tory and experience. Easy divorce
is a cause. and symptom Of decaying
civilizations. Read the downfall of
the Roman Empire. Easy divorce Is
a characteristic of q. low civilization.
Study the divorce customs or MohaH-
medan countries. EASY divorce is
becoming a curse to our own country.
We do not see it so clearly here In
the South; because it has not Yet at
tackled largely our own white people.
but the accounts of conditions where
the divorce evil is widespread are
enough to alarm us and TO warn US.
Close. honest students of American
life are lamenting divorce as one OF
our most discourasing social tenden-
cieS.
/ suppose that not one of the num-
erous causes OF divorce in some OF our
states was niaced on the statute book
with purpose of making divorce easy
and lowering the family life; but III
the unwisdom of kind-hearted men,
and in the over-zeal of a lawyer to
protect his client, the law was passed
10 relieve some "hard case.
Sincerely yours.
"ROBERT STRANGE.