The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-22
Rev. Mr. DOdds Would Imprison
Guilty Parties for 5 Years.
Says That Breaking of Marital
Ties Is an American Mania.
STARTLING FIGURES.
Proportion of Dissolved Mar
riages Greater in West.
Interesting Addresses at Chris
tian Citizenship Conference.

In every decree of divorce granted
let the guilty party be Imprisoned for
five years or more and lay a strict pro-
hibftion upon the innocent ~ partner
that will hinder remarriage for a like
period. Never allow a freed prisoner
to marry again.
This was the panacea for the divorce
evil, or "social swigery'' as he denom-
mated it. which Rev. ]. B. Dodds of
Sterling, Kan, gave last night before
the conference for the discussion of
National Righteousness and Christian
Citizenship which is being held at the
Reformed Presbyterian church.
He said in part:
I'VE, as a nation, are rushing on after
Pagan Rome. Gibbon tells Of "a tri-
umphant husband who buried his TWEEN
ty-first wife who in turn had laid to
rest twenty-five of his less sturdy pre-
decessors.
divorce is the American mania The
United States lead all other nations in
divorces and at times outstrips all ma
tfons combined This evil like the
star of empire" westward takes its
way.
There is in New York one divorce
for every forty marriages; IN Phlla-
delphia, one in twenty; Chicago in
creases the ratio to one IN nlnes Whlle
Kansas City is said to grant one d1-
vorce in every four marriages.
The family is the unit of our ma
tional life, but at this rate how brief
will be the time until the world will
be ripe for its flood of fire as was the
antediluvian world ready for its fatal
deluge?
The divorce mania is a corrupter
Of judicial honor. Our laws allow
Judge such a latitude for discretion
that men on the bench often abuse this
power to the utmost.
The word of God allows but two
causes of divorce-adultery 6Matt.
5:32) and desertion Il Cor. 1:15).
Yet according to the public press, a
Dakota judge granted woman de-
cree Of divorce upon her plea that
she would not and could not stand
his cold feet"
The legislative enactment of lax
granting of divorce on the most
trivial causes. This proves that our
judiciary are being debauched as well
as that public sentiment is deter1O-
rating. But what else may we expect
if there is no higher authority for law
than 1--WE the people"? Did we as q
nation recognize the authority of
divine law, we would limit the area OF
this social cancer.
FaciIe divorce contributes largely to
the increase of the criminal class The
PittSburg Times says: There are
about 35, 900 divorced persons in Chi
cago, parents of about $1,000 chill
dren. A majority of commitments to
corrective institutions are children of
divorcees."
Frequent divorce is less common in
the lower stratum of society than in
the better off and wealthier classes.
This shows that this evil strikes so
ciety in its most vital part. It de-
SfrnUS the homes in which 0NiIdTpr1
have the best chance for highest de-
velopment.
In every decree OF divorce granted
let the guilty party be imprisoned for
five years or more and let a strict
prohibition be laid upon the in
nocent(2) partner that will hinder
remarriage for a like period. Then
never allow the freed prisoner to
marry again. This will put an end to
collusion in order to secure a divorce
and it will deter rs per cent of the ap-
plicants from coming into court.
Make marriage a deliberate process
and give it full publicity, let its cele-
bration be with due sOlemnity SO that
hasty marriages will be out of the
question.
The sacredness of wedlock should
be taught in our homes and be a sub
ject OF wise instruction in our public
schools. 'sWhat God hath joined to-
gether let no man put asunder. -
Matt 1919.
Rev. S. E. Greer of MiItonvale,
Kan. spoke on 1.-THE Best Solution for
the Liquor Question" In his address
he said: 1--WE cannot gain our point
by voting for the Republican or the
Democratic party The Republicans
stand for whisky and beer and the
Democrats for beer and whisky.
Though the Prohibition party has
done great good it still does not solve
the problem. We need an amendment
| to the constitution of the United
| States, and then the liquor traffic viii
be down and out"
Rev. D. H. Elliott Of Denison. Kan,
spoke on 1.-THE Bible in the Public
Schools He named these five points
as proving the necessity of making
scripture reading a part of the daily
work in a school: It is the duty of the
state to train her citizens; the state
has organized the public school to
train her citizens; the state is in duty
bound to teach everything in its
/ schools essential to good citizenship;
no person is qualified for good citizen
ship without moral training The only
perfect system of morals is taught in
the Bible.
The programme for tonight. when
the meetings close. is as follows: 1880,
devotional exercises; 1;45, The Re
/ Iigious Defects of Our Constitution.
Rev. A J. Mcfarland, Kansas City,
Mo; Sis. Evils Resulting From
These Defects. Rev. G. A. Edgar
! Olathe. Kan: S:45, What Is the Con-
sistent Attitude of Christians Under d
| Government Which Bars Our Christ
and His Law, DR.. A. J. Mcfarland.
Temperatures of Large Cities.
| Chicago, Nov 22.-7 a. m. tempera-
lures: New York &c; Boston 36; Phila-
/ delDhia 40: Washington 80; Chicago 81;
Minneapolis So; Cincinnati 80: St. Louis
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Ns--,ths-r Indications