The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
CATHOLIC WOMEN'S CAMPAIGN
FORK or DAUGHTERS OF THE
FAITH AGAINST DIVORCE.
Popc Approves Scheme, which Includes
RoOtinE Out OF Evils Existing In So
cicty and the HOme--Nliss I.ummis
writes Manual Explaining Movement.

he published this week by G. Putnam
Sons The author is Miss Eliza OBren
lummis, founder of the society.
There are about 200 pages in the book.
preface contains the brief Of appreciation
recently received from Pope Plus y. and
rcrsonal letters Of Endorsement from ID.
Falconio, the apostolic delegate; Cardinal
Gibbons. Archbishop Farley. Archbishop
RiorcIan Of San Francisco and Bishop Cotton
Of BIfalo.
Since the Daughters organization was
founded there has been spirited division
Of opinion among both clergy and laity as
to its purpose, Clerical criticism has been
less outspokcn since Miss Lummis's au-
diencc with the Pope, which resulted in the
para brief approving the scheme and
suggesting that the women of the world
cooperate with their New York sisters.
The manual explains the need of such
society among women of conspicuous social
position. its object and aim, and defines
the lines along which it proposes to work
in the interest of healthier public senti-
mcnt and Of high ideals in society and the
home.
!, reiterates the plea made recently by
Archbishop Farley at reception he gave
in April to the Daughters of the Faith at
the episcopal residence, that the coopera-
ton Of non-Catholc women be sought and
welcomed. especially in the society's efforts
to check divorce.
Some of the most prominent Catholic
women are said to be holding a loot from
personal activity in the movement until
the scope Of the society is more thoroughly
understood, The little manual will he cir
culated freely this summer at Newport,
d.. H. iss,~ ,,,l, th,r
fashona BILE resorts, with the idea of paving
the way to more intelligent understa nding
wien the Daughters meet for formal organi
cation in the fall
The field Of work has been mapped out
thoroughly. In Europe many women of
title or unQucstoncd social influence
say they are ready to cooperate with the
New York society as soon as they are Off
cla.ly notified that the hour for action
has come. Negotiations, are already pend
ing for the manuals translation into French
and Italian
The Office of the Daughters Of the Faith
says the manual, lis to unite Catholic
women, more particularly those of sta
ton and influence, in discountenancing
the social usages and customs that are the
evident cause of the spread of moral evil
in society. and in protesting Il higher n irt-
Catholic woman in the world.
The society docs not seek to displace
older organization ms. but to act as bend
between them; first, by the union Of few
courageous women whose lives are an
open protest against the evils rife in the
fashionable world. 1t is the hour of sorest
need when the morality of ra'ions is en-
dangered and when the world il calling fer
the Christian woman.
OF the American girl the author says
n
Ing las been so far somewhat Theoretical
and superficial, an education rather Of
books than of practise and the daughter
of wealth have been more fully pIepa red
for the uses of society than those Of home
life The advantages of good eStah ISL
nent and social position may not be under
valued, but the American girl has been so
thoroughly penetrated with the idea that
the most important and seemingly only
aim in life is to make an advantageous
marriage that she has come TO consider it
not a. the gate to success, but its goal, and
looks for nothing tevond.
she has learned in consequence rather
to squander wealth than to store up within
treasures of thought and wisdom, and
having accomplished the purpose given her
she settles down to enjoy the reward of
we'll doing"
The author has faith in the American girls
natural generous impulses. her courage
and well defined ideas Of right and wrong
and be,iavas"if sle I've encourag ed to study
to cultivate a beautiful and answering
purpose to I've true to the highest ideals of
her nature the new woman may yet out
grow the prejudice that gave birth to the
title and become synonym of that gracious
and helpful womanhood that is greatly
the need Of the twentieth century and
Lar so wonderful part to play in the up
li''nr Of mankind"
Our own country, whose morality has
not kept pace with its enlight eminent 4"
Divorce" has thrown off all restraint and
allows divorce for the slightest cause and
with almost unlimited frequency. Society
e. in consequence, on the verge Of moral
ruin, and nothing but the religious and
social recognition of the true horror of this
crime can arrest the evil that with cyconic
:occc has, in Q comparatively short time
overthrow domestic peace and uprooted
the safeguards OF purity and honor, TO
oondone the sin Is to partake of it, and We
should realize its effects as well as its ma
ture, for If we so condone it We become
moral participants, not alone in the sin but
also IN the evils that follow
Rather drastic measures are proposed
by the Daughters to enforce the contem-
plated reforms, They include measures
upon which the Daughters split in the
FIRST days of agitation, not few declaring
that in order to fulfil the rules literally
they would be forced to ignore socially
not only closest friends, but in not a few
Instances kindred, so largely is divorce,
t"!'uRH mixed marriages, making urOauS
into Catholic families
What must be the course of action of
the Catholic who stands before the world
a. the steadfast and almost solitary up
holder Of the sanctty and inviolable charac-
ter OF marriage toward those whose in
traction Of it must be looked upon not as
iegreitabe acts sanctioned by custom
On, a, damnabe sins?" asks the manual
The Catholic Divorce who remarries
communicates herself. She enters into
what she knows to he sinful relationship
and by that act openly sets at naught the
teaching Of the Church. " 1t Is not the
church that has cast her off it is she herself
That has broken the filial tie The Catholic
o'torffe rho remdrries must be socially
oS'rdc'sod -. The Catholic divorcee has
no excuse, The Protestant has some
hn'h UNIONS PROTESTANT as are openly ddui-
nr'us Should be treated in the same ray as
me Catholic d,rorcee and subjected to The
same rule"
Aside from the chapter "On Divorce"
90 feature of the book, perhaps, will be
!nund more suggestive than Some Ques-
toi'' Answered." 1t is the contribution Of
htefnlnelt ecclesiastic. Here many mooted
ItdS"S OF marriage and divorce wit hin tho