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

ner second marriage, and that unless
the decree were signed It would be-
very incOnvenient for her, as the sup
per for 3 second wedding had been
ordered.n
AID s.c!, !s the state Of public
sentiment when these women have OBJ.
tatned q legal separation, there are
ministers who will sanction and On.
dOrse there action es right by marry
ing them again, there arc 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 age, that marriage Is not
an institution created by the State. 1t
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 Col.
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 tn"
ruin Of the children. 1t deprives them
OF the fathers care, or OF the mothers
love, and it's effect on them Is harm
lul But the EVIL Is greater tran this.
D -stroy the family, and you swe ep
away one Of the props on which buth
Church and State rest. 1t is a step,
long step, In 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 Uf the family.
The family Is Jhe unit, and it is the
foundation of society, and or the
Church and Of the State D .stroy 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-if 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 80 to re-
gard IL? II it be felony for burglar
to rob a home of hundred dollars, is
it not more serious offense for one Of
both OF those whose duty 1t SO to pro-
tect and guard 1t, to prove false to
their trust and destroy it? Should
not the civil court take cognizance of
the fact that whenever a family is de-
stroyed, somebody has committed q
serious offensd In causing its destruc
tion? Should 1t 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
fenseP
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 Lhe 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 1t Is from this source
that the remedy Is to be expected.