The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-07-19
Lutheran Synod Ends.

DdlldS, Specialize general Unit
ed Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran
church, which was held here, closed
It's work on Saturday. From every
viewpoint 1t was a highly interesting
and profitable meeting. Deep spiritn-
ality and profound earnestness per-
vaded all its deliberations. From a
STANDPOINT OF general interest its de-
IlVery on the divorce evil is perhaps
n of the greatest things accomplish
ed. This Is a strong. reiteration of the
action taken two years ago, and the
report is as follows:
The attitude of the Church Of
CHRIST Is regard to the sacredness of
the marriage bond and its indissoi-
naole character should be made clear
n unmlstakable. In view of the
revival Of the agitation of this sub
Ject In this country. it is proper that
me United Synod should give utter
ance to what it believes is the teach
ing of the Scriptures. and that in
terms unequiovocal.
I'm the perview of the State mar
r1age is a civil contract and nothing
more DEGREES of divorce affect such
contract only in its civil aspect. There
fore an annulment by the State of
the bonds of marriage can have no
binding effect upon the conscience of
the Church Of Christ. which. resting
upon the Holy Scriptures. recognizes
III marriage an institution ordained
of God and hedged about with divine
sanctions and limitations.
While the Church cannot but look
with dlsfavor upon the facility with
which the bonds of marriage are dis
solved under the laws of the State be-
cause Of its natural effect in beoet-
ting a perverted view of the charac-
ter OF the marital bond. vet it is not
III our province to dictate to the State
how 1t shall deal with this subject,
viewed as simply a contract between
citizens of the COMMONWEALTH. 1t is
Il duty, however, as clSrchmen. to
consider marriage as m.Se than a
evil contract and to so ACT as to en-
phaslze its divine and Script val char
acter. N
The special function of the, Ehurch
therefore Is to indicate bv ffthful
teachings, proper sentiments as u the
.sacredness of the marriage relation as
OF divine sanction. and through its
ministry to testify to the indissoluble-
ness of the martial bond by declining
to o%fficlate at the remarriage of di-
vorced parties while both are living.
Viewed i'll the light of Scripture.
marriage is an engagement as long
as both parties do live. and the vow
prescribed in the ritual so afirms
While for one specified cause and
perhaps also for wilful desertion,
was be a proper dissolution of
hat BOND and Of all obligations grow
ng out Of such marriages. there is
Scrlptural warrant for either party
o remarry, while the other is living. I
Therefore no minister of the Church
II Christ should o~fficiate at the re-
marriage of divorced parties unless I
lie is assured that the marriage bond ,
las been dissolved by God Himself
hat is by the death of one of the
{
Publishing Committee Report. '
The publishing committee held a
neeting, the chairman, Rev. W. L..
'abrook, submitted the following re- e
ort from the meeting: T
Whereas, a proposition has been .
nd before this committee by private :
arties from Columbia respecting the :
urchase of a property in said city Z
the purpose of furnishing the Ii
utilization interests of this Synod, s.
Resolved, That, having heard and p
'nsldered the aforesaid proposition, E
lis committee reports it with it's APP Z
roval to Synod and requests that it's Il
cceptance be authorized. r
"W. L. SEABROOK. b
Chairman. L