Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-31
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

Next November q divorce congress
will convene In Philadelphia. The OBJ
jet II 10 consider a proposed statute
relative TO the annulment OF marriags
and the granting Of divorces. The
MEASURE, when accepted by the Phila'
delphia assembly. viii be submitted tc
Congress in the hope that uniformity In
the legislation pertaining to that sub
Jet may be obtained throughout the
country
The importance OF uniformity in the
marriage and divorce laws has long
been recognized. What IS permitted IN
one state is unlawful IN another. and
the legal status Of person may there
fore be perfectly correct In one city,
while It is the opposite across the Dor
der a few miles away. The causes for
which divorce is granted differ in diff
ferent states The restrictions on re-
marriage also differ.
As an illustration Of what one com.
monwealth permits, Il can be stated
that both bigamy and biandfy may be
legalized IN the state Of New York Ia
certain cases, II husband. or wife, is
deserted for Ave years. the deserted
party Is permitted 10 marry provided
the deserter had not been heard from
during that period. IL the deserter re-
turns. the second marriage may be de-
clared void. but II no steps are taken
to have Il annulled By decree o. court,
one husband may live In lawful we'd
lock with more than one wife, or one
wife with more than one husband, as
the case may be. The children are legt.
innate and both wives are entitled to
dover. This condition would perhaps
not be countenanced in any other state,
though It does not appear that New
York has suffered greatly from tolsrat-
ing an exceptional, abnormal status. in
preference 70 the breaking up Of fam
lies
Divorce legislation should aim at the
stemming OF 'he tide Of legal separa-
tlons, as well AS at the establishment
Of uniformity in the laws relating there
20. II IS estimated that about one mill
lion divorces have been granted IN this
country during period Of twenty
years. Something is. clearly, wrong
where family ties are broken al such
an enormous rate. is II the ease with
which divorce can be secured. that is 10
blame? or, is II the lack OF character.
the contempt for moral ideals the spirit
Of rebellion against restraint? our age
certainly exhibits many symptoms OF
al these failings.
II is a subject upon which the
differ IN some essential points.
IN the Roman Catholic church the va
idly married may not remarry so long
as either Of the parties Is alive Where
there are sufficient reasons the church
permits legal separation Of the welded
'ouple. The Protestant Episcopal
'hurch forbids minister TO marry any
person VINO has been divorced other
wise than Gods word doth allow, - /. p.
or the marital tnhdelity Of the other
larty, Presbyterian ministers must re-
use 10 perform the marriage ceremony |
n the cases Of divorced persons ex-
'eDt as such persons have been d.. |
'orced upon grounds and for causes
ecognized as scriptural in the stand. |
irds OF the church. In the Methodist |
Episcopal church no divorce. er-
ept for adultery, is regarded By |
he church as lawful, and no
minister Is supposed to solemn |
re marriage in any case where |
here IL divorced wife or husband |
wing; but this rule is not applied to 1
he innocent party TO a divorce for the |
ause Of adultery. nor 10 divorced par
les seeking TO be reunited in marriage. |
Possibly the churches should seek to |
,btain a better understanding Of all |
questions bearing on marriage and dl. /
'orce. ~ a preliminary 70 the efforts |
or uniformity In the legislation rcla-
i've to the subject