The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-23
.LU1HERANS STRIKE
At DIVORCE EVIL
ENGLISH CHURCH SYNOD DE-
CLAREs ITSELF STRONGLY.
Resolutions Are Adopted and Addresses
Heard, Judge Holt Being Among the
Speakers One Minister Blames the
Newspapers for Prevalence Of Evil.


for the northwest has gone on record
against marriage after divorce, and has
adopted the following resolutions:
SResolved-First, That we deem it
the solemn duty Of all pastors to in
struct their congregation concerning
the permanency Of the marriage rela-
ton. and to warn against it's violation
or disparagement, as a crime against
God that cannot be mitigated or apollo
civic laws or any lowering Of the stand
ard prescribed in Gods word on the
part of the community around them, or
to those who may be regarded as lead
ers of public opinion.
That this testimony should be given
not only when some notorious violation
Of Gods law attracts general atten-
ton, but in frequent instructions and
admonitions from the pulpit, even
where no occasion for it seems to be i'm
mediately urgent; and especially with
struction Of catechumens.
That We regard every pastor who
performs a marriage ceremony as testi-
Tying, by that very act, that, so far
as. he has had opportunity Of discov-
ering, after earnest endeavors to ascer-
tain the facts, said marriage is regular
and in accordance with Gods word;
and that 1t is our conviction, further,
that in. invoking Gods blessing upon
the union, he becomes participant in
the guilt, if he be without reasonable
assurance that both parties to the con-
tract comply with the divine require
ments. s. 81, ....
"That we teach that the licenses,
issued by the state, and compliance
with every civil requirement, while in
dispensable. cannot Of themselves be
guide to the conscience Of either pas
tors or Individual Christians; and the
distinction between the, standards that
avail before man and before God,
should never be forgotten. Nor can
the state by it's enactments and permits,
sion ever legitimate what the word of
God condemns. q.
I of the marriage Of divorced persons
this synod insists on the following
practice of all pastors, to-wit: that
pastors decline to marry any person
who has husband or wife living un-
4 less such person shall have been di.
vorced by due process of law from
such husband or wife for the cause of
! adultery or wilful desertion; and in
that case that pastors consent to marry
only the innocent party to such divorce
and then not until the expiration of a
year after the divorce shall have been
granted W..
Rev. MIR. Gebhardt's Paper.
The resolutions were adopted after {
vile, Wis, on ''What Protection ant
Safeguards Should the Church ant
State Place Upon Holy Matrimony?'
Mr.. Gebhardt emphasized the fact tina
the moral aspect of marriage can onl,
be accomplished when it's permanency
is established and he urged that onl,
the innocent party in case of divorce
be allowed to remarry. He strongl,,
urged the church to oppose the, lax AM
diversified laws which govern divorc,
and increase its evils. "a
The discussion was led by Judg
Holt, who referred to the recent deci
the divorce null unless both parties ar
under control of the state. He recon
mended that three years should elaps
before remarriage, rather than on
year, which has lately supplanted tn
old time limit.
,~. Blames the Newspapers.
DR.. W. X. Frick again brought up tn
: subject in his address last evening
q. and blamed the newspapers, the thes
, ter and the sensational pulpit for tn
unnatural leel1uR COWdiu u1FoIces. II
5 claims it is by the airing Of specis
). cases this tainted interest is induced
Rev. George Drach, Of Philadelphia
general secretary Of the foreign mi
sionary board, spoke on the value c
foreign mission work and its permt
nency. -
: At this mornings. session the col
} stitution which two years ago. wa
suggested, was adopted in full.
meeting Of the ministerium, whose Sc
! sions are secret, was, held before tn
= regular session, to discuss the admi
q sion Of two members. This -afternoo
the offer of a location at Duluth for
:, school was discussed.
! The method oB contributing to tt
:, relief fund for pastors and widow
! came up at the afternoon session.
. was decided that each pastor shoul
. give l per cent Of his salary each yes
:, to this fund and that a certain per cel
= Of the income of each church be Xix
! wise devoted to it. G. A. Smith intr
- duced this matter a year ago.