The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-07
PULPIT ON DIVORCE
Drs. Moore, at Edenton
Street, and Moment
at Presbyterian.

at Presbyterian.
+ The question of divorce seriously
agitated by the various religious bodies
of the state during the past wear. ana
settled in a recent committee meeting
IN a way unsatisfactory to the mem
bers Of the clergy throughout the
state figured on Sunday in two able
sermons from Raleigh pulpits.
DIR. Moorc's Sermon.
Rev w. H. Moore, D. D.. Presiding
Elder, preached a strong sermon ,t
the Edenton Street Methodist church
| on sunday morning, on the subject Of
GODS Government" from the text
ROMANS, gall. During the course of
| MS sermon DR.. Moore took occasion TO
! vigorously aSSail that attitude taken by
many people and by legislative bodies
that the principles and commandments
| OF the Bible are not necessarily bind
! ing upon the present generation in
view of its advancement in civilization
and on account of it's enlarged and
more complex requirement Of living.
In part, Dr. Moore said:
All the talk about the impossibility
of making men moral by legislation is
tic Nti ItSl fOIl-StIlSS. were lnefe any
truth in it, then God would not have
promulgated to q degenerate world
laws against the evil cIen are OF ma
ture inclined to do, nor would he have
denounced the penalty of eternal dea III
for their disobedience.
Men may be made moral, if not
Christian, by legislation, and no man is
worthy to sit in a legislative seat who
does not recognize that fact. AS has
been already said, "the powers that we
are ordained of God, for the punish
ment of evil-doers and the praise OF
them that do WELL" What is a law
for, If not to condemn evil? and by its
punishment restrain from crime?
The law is not made for the righte-
Gus, but for the laWless and DISC
bedient Good men need no law,
they will do right without it. Nine
tenthS of our citizenship never come
under the condemnation of the crin-
nal law. 1t is only needed to protect
them from those VINO are criminal IN
purpose and intent, and if ii does not
do that then the law is useless thing.
1.-THE blessedness of the nation
whose God is the Lord, arises from
obedience TO his law. and it is d
strange thing in this common Wea n
founded by God-fearihg men and
whose constitution makes it the frs
duty of all her citizenship to "encou.-
dSe IGtiSlOn To near one occupying Il
legislative seat assert in debating
question where morals were concerned
that lit is all right TO follow the Bible
50 long as 1t is reasonable!
"It has been the glory of North
Carolina from the beginning that her
people have believed in the Bible.
.ioWever far her citizenship individu-
ally may have. in practice. fallen be-
low the requirements of the Ten Com
mandmcnts. or the sermon on the
Mount, still they have believed in them |
and the righteousness they enforce.
They believe in them still and the
sentiment that the Biblical law in ref |
erence 10 any moral question is unreal
sonable is wholly alien to that of the |
great mass of the people, whose rellgi- |
Gus convictions have been shocked by
recent legislation on the subject of Ii |
vorce-four hundred thousand of her |
best citizens having by petition asked |
for the abolition of the present law
which is of comparatively recent en- |
actment, and return to the old law |
based on the law of God, and of cur
fathers.
who is he that brands the laws en-
acted by infinite wisdom as in any part |
unreasonable? Who is he that says |
the petition OF four hundred thousand |
God-fearing and law-abidng citizens. !
who may ask for laws in conformity |
Win the DIVINE Law, are 'aSRlnS Tor |
that which is unreasonable?
Tell it not in Gath. publish ii not /,
in the streets of ASkalon that in the !
domain of North Carolina one man is |
found not only to question the wisdom |
of the great bulk of her people, from |
the highest in both church and State. |
but who has the temerity to question !
the reasonableness of God"
On last Sabbath morning DIR. Mo- |
mont preached in the First PreSby- |
terrain churcn on the infallible truths |
of Christianity, contained III The first
three chapters of Genesis His theme |
was an old Cathedral. Among other |
things he said; The family is the next |
columnear truth that enters into the !
majestic nave Of this old cathedral. !
This whole narrative. which teens |
with wonders as great rivers TEEN with I
rushing waters, goes on to say that |
God made woman out of one OF |
Adams ribs. that being bone of his |
bone and flesh OF his flesh. she was |
one with him; and therefore shall a |
man leave his father and his mother. |
and shall cleaVe unto his wife: anc !
they shall be one flesh"
Thus was the first couple married |
in Eden. and the family relationship |
the woman of one man and one |
woman in the bonds of holy wedlocE- |
established q the Very beginning III |
humanity'S career as the germ of all |
human happiness, as the source of all |
true government, as the foundation OF !
all durable prosperity and as the inner |
sanctuary of all vital religion.
Greater than church or state. great |