Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-03
DISCUSS CAUSE
Of DIVORCE EVIL
MINISTER SAYS LAWS ARE
TOO LAX
Judges Say Remedy Lies With the
Church, but Preacher Says
Marriage Is Not State
Institution

divorces under existing laws were
made at the meeting of the anti-di-
vorce forces in the guild hall of st.
PauPs pro-cathedral last night, at
which were present judges of the su-
perior court and Dean wilkins of st.
Paul's church.
Judge Wilbur of the superior court
said the laws of the state of Califor-
MIA are such that If man should
come home at night, find another man
in his house and even in his bed, the
man in the bed could snap his finger
at the husband and say, What are
you going to do about itB" leaving the
husband no chance for redress.
THAT husband in all probability
will shoot and kill the man instantly,
and on trial for manslaughter will
be sent to the penitentiary for life"
said Judge Wilbur Under the pres
ent conditions there Is even no re-
dress for a man for the seduction of
his children over 16 years of age"
Cites Many Cases
Continuing his address, Judge Will
bur cited several divorce cases in which
he had rendered judgment, each one
based upon a different charge, rang
ing from deserttion to adultery. In
each case pitiful relations between the
man and wife were brought to light.
Judge Wilbur in each instance point
ed out that there was but one thing
possible under the conditions-that of
granting divorces to the plaintiffs.
Judge Conrey also one of the speak
ers, admitted that there were many
obstacles in the way for proper juris-
diction, and that there was a marked
facility in obtaining divorces.
THE church has ample power to ex-
ercise in obtaining proper Legislation
on the divorce question. But the ques-
ton is, Will the church go so far"
If not, why not?
ITO the church the marriage cere-
mony is a sacrament" said Judge Con-
rey. THE problem for the state differs
from the problem of the church. Hon
esty must be the elemental force. The
state as an organized society coulo
adopt measures that would change the
legislation to one more stringent in
the question of granting divorces. Re-
ligion will never gain ascendency over
man unless all life is regarded as di-
vine.
0dTCoStiCdiIy ASSditS OuO9cS
Dean wilkins of st. PauPs pro-
cathedral assailed the judges in the
politest sarcasm and stated point
blank that the wife's relations to her
husband We're such that she should
submit to him as she would to the law.
I'VE are told that the marriage cere-
mony is made up of three steps. That
it is a civil contract, that each are
equal partners in the contract and that
with the consent Of the state this con-
tract may be dissolved.
"Since the times Of ancient Rome, in
modern Europe and all over this Ameri-
can continent marriage has been a
miserable failure. dreadful failure,
that has wrought dreadful havoc to the
social fabric. 1t has been the most
blighting and destructive force thrown
against the home unit upon which
everything is based"
Turning to the judges of the superior
court and bowling to them, he said in
bitter but polite words:
Bible contradicts Law
Learned gentlemen of the bar, the
Bible contradicts every one of the three
steps upon which marriage is based,
according to the law of the state. 1t
denies that marriage is civil contract,
it says that marriage is of God. 1t de-
MES that the man and wife are equal
partners, it says that they are of one
flesh and, gentlemen, it says: What
God has made one. no man shall cast
>asunder.'
Marriage, say, is not state insti-
tuition. 1t is of divine origin. The mar
riage of man to woman is of far more
Importance than the state. If the rela-
tive parts of the state were shattered
ct CT "a
would be builded.
THE Master denies that man and
wife are equal partners. He denies that
a family is partnership. Gentlemen,
1t is an autocracy, with the husband at
it's head.
Wife Should Submit
THE wife should submit herself to
her husband as she does herself to the
law. The Masters teachings were for
daily use and home consumption, and
the final authority in the family is in
the husband. If these conditions are
not observed the household has been
divided upon its very foundation.
Is Paganlsm Plus Hypocrisy
"The wife through her cunning can
assume the head of the family, but with
that we all know of the conditions.
Marriage at present is Paganism plus
hypocrisy.
"In the court records we learn a
woman was separated from her hus-
band for failing to awaken him in the
mornings-alleging wilful neglect We
see the husband would not take his
wife riding-alleging extreme cruelty.
We find the wife refused to sew buttons
on his clothes. All Of these allegations
caused the plaintiff much pain and
worry and sought relief by the separa-
tion Of the court. The evils of divorce
lie deeper than the state can reach"
Judge Wilbur, in making his ad-
dress, quoted from an open Bible.
THE Bible tells us, 'WhosoeVer so
much as looks upon a woman with lust
In his heart has committed adultery
According to the law of the state that
In itself has justified the granting of a
divorce. In another place in the Bible
1t tells us that we should love another
as we do ourselves"
Throughout the meeting seemed to be
battle royal between the judges of the
superior court citing the laws of the
state; and the church citing the Bible
and the teachings of God. Each speech
was made amid the most dramatic
scenes Every member in the audience
strained every nerve TO catch every