The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-17

her second marriage, and that unless
the decree were signed it would be
very nconvenient for her, as the sup.
per for . second wedding had been
ordered" =
And such is the state of public
sentiment when these women have oh.
tanned a legal separation, there are
ministers who will sanction and en-
doTse there action 50 right 5y marry
ing them again, there are thousands
in and out OF the Church who will
recognize them as respectable. Their
social standing in many communities
would not be compromised.
The great truth Is lost sight of by
the present Sge, that marriage Is not
an Institution created by the State. It
was ordained OF God in the Garden of
Eden. The law OF its perpetuity was
laid down and enforced by Christ.
Legislatures have no power to add to
or modify Gods laws. Only on the
ground named In the Bible can the
marriage relation be dissolved with.
out violating the laws of Goa.
Another great truth is that there
Is far more involved In the granting
of divorce than the comfort or hap
piness Of the husband and the wife.
The divorce of the parents is often the
ruin Of the children. It deprives them
OF the fathers care, or Of the mothers
love, and its effect on them Is harm
iul But the evil Is greater tnan this.
d -stroy the family, and you sweep
away one Of the props on which blth
Church and State rest. 1t is a step,
long step, Ia the direction of anar
chy. Society can survive the destruc-
tlOn OF the State, but 1t cannot sur
vive the des' ruction Of the family.
The Church can survive the destruo.
tion of the State, but it cannot sur
vive the destruction of the family.
The family Is the unit, aud it is the
foundation Of society, and OF the
Church and Of the State. Destroy the
family, and serious injury is Inflicted
on all that Is good.
If the Church would refuse to re.
cognize as in good standing those who
had been unlawfully divorced-tf min
listers OF the gospel would refuse to
marry them-if public sentiment
would emphasize their reproach, this
great evil would be checked.
We call 1t an evil Is 1t not crime?
And ought not the civil law so to re-
gard itP II it be felony for burglar
to rob home of a hundred dollars, Is
it not a more serious offense for one Of
both Of those whose duty 1t SO to pro
tect aud guard 1t, to prove false to
their trust and destroy it? Should
not the civil court take cognizance Of
the fact that whenever family is de-
stroyed, somebody has committed a
serious offensd In causing it's destruc
tion? Should it not at the time of
granting the divorce, decide also who
is the party whose fault makes it
necessary, and infliot penalty on the
offender commensurate with the Of
fenSe?
We think the tide Is turning, and
that there Is some improvement In the
morals Of the land. There are not
quite as many homicides now as there
we're eight years ago. There are some
symptoms OF Improvement in the mat
ter OF divorces In The last five or ten
years. And there is increasing spirit
ual power in the churches. With the
outpOurlng OF the Holy Spirit that
many are praying for, will come a
change that will correct many exist
ing evils, and it Is from this source
that the remedy Is to be expected.