Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-01

all laws fOrbidGing the remarriage OF
divorced persons or those who have
parted by mutual agreement
The voice or popular protest has been
quickly aroused against the doctrine
OF trial marriage as set forth IN Mrs
Herbert Parsons book. ''The Family"
Here and there only a voice was raised
In favor OF trial marriage as being q
solution OF the divorce problem.
The Rev. Morgan Dix. rector OF Trim.
ity church. I'm New York. was outspolx-
en- against trial marriage. He called Il
'abomiDRble" and can imposition on
civilized society"
'fhc doctrines set forth by Mrs. Par.
sons" he said. ARE simply outrageous
This idea, If carried out would place
civilized men and women Ina the same
position as animals. contracting for
short time and separating at VIII 20
form new alliances and leaving the
children TO be nobody's children and 20
be cared for 10y the state. This would
be barbarism. II rcverts back OF man
to the beast
The proposition 10 reduce the mum.
Der OF children and keep down the
progeny OF married couples is also
most offensive and is menace TO mo
rallty and the stability Of society. I
consider Mrs. Parsons theories out.
rageous and will attack them with all
the force In me"
The Rev. Or. Charles II. Parkhurst
OF New York said he felt very much
alarmed because woman OF educa-
ton and social position should have
taken II upon herself 20 assist in
knocking down the bars that are fall
ing fast enough as &c Is.
'The family Is the foundation OF az.
our social religious and political lnsti-
tutions." said Dr Parkhurst "The
home Is the unit. Anything which
tends 10 dis.ntccrate the home. which
tends 10 break the vital bonds OF mar
riage. is wholly bad. n you shake
foundation stone. You may not bring
about the collapse of the building. but
many cracks VIII appear In the walls.
''As 10 Mrs. Parsons views on the
remarriage OF divorced persons, l can
say l am partly In sympathy with her
l believe that where woman has been
divorced from an erring husband she
should not be punished 10y being forced
TO remain single But further than
that I cannot go.
The modern stage. the modern nov.
el and other indications or the popular
thought show there are many persons
who are awaiting an excuse 70 break
the conventions that society has found
necessary 20 impose. Anything that
will countenance or appear to counte.
nance rupture OF these conventions
is bound 10 be seized upon by some Of
these persons TO their undOing Such
book as Mrs Parsons has written, cou-
ing from an authoritative source, Is
likely TO become an instrument OF evil
In the manner l have Indicated"
THAT the ideas set forth Ia The
Family by Mrs. Elsie Clews Parsons,
are acceptable to the members OF the
women's clubs OF New York or other
cities Of the United States must be set
aside as false" said Mrs. Dore LYON.
honorary president OF the City Fedora
ton OF WOmen's Clubs $50 far from
that being the case, II Is true that the
entire club world has strIven TO build
up the status OF woman throughout the
witt anu tAtN ANC4 NONlu
tearing down OF all we have accom-
plished In that direction. The woman.
In clubs, married or single, realizes, as
perhaps few others do. the inherent ne
cessity OF the sacredness OF the mar
riage tie and has fought for il and Will
go on fighting for It, What Is this idea
save an advocacy OF the most I'M
bridled license? II is not only immoral,
but almost indecent. TO say nothing of
being widely impracticable."
Mrs. Josefa Osborn or New York
said: Trial marriages would probably
result in no more separations than we
have now, and II such separation could
be effected quietly and without public
scandal i believe it would be a very
good thing for society"
Rev. r. Heber Newton OF New York
said: The recommendation OF trial
marriage is the kind OF suggestion that
may be expected from a person OF aca-