Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-20
Marriage License.

| The New York legislature mas just
passed and Governor Hughes has
signed a marriage license act under
the provisions Of which a license must
| be obtained at least five days before
a marriage ceremony may be legally
performed. Heretofore, New York has
required no legal preliminaries what
ever to the performance Of marriage
ceremonies with the result that moth
| ing has stood in the way to prevent
| the marriage of irresponsible youths
and maidens; with or without the
knowledge, much less consent, of their
parents: drunk or sober, at any hour
of the day or night.
| That is precisely the condition that
exists in South Carolina now, and
which enlightened legislators have for
years been vainly endeavoring to rem
edy. Although no objection worthy OF
patient attention has been urged
against a marriage license law for
South Carolina and although on ac-
count of the absence Of a divorce law
ldeliberation in regard to contracting
marriage is more necessary In this
than in any other state, it Is probable
that the measure will continue to be
met with unreasonable opposition for
some time to come when it is proposed
in the South Carolina general assem-
bly.-News and Courier.
| There are a great many people in
South Carolina who take no little pride
in the fact that the state has no di-
vorce law and also in the fact that 1t
has no marriage law.
Unless we are suffering from very
serious lack Of information and facts,
these subjects-lack of divorce laws,
and lack of marriage laws-haye never
received very serious consideration at
the hands of the lawmakers of this
state.
The subject of divorce was up in the
constitutional convention Of 1895; but
| it was quickly squelched. The leading
members being entirely satisfied as to
their own marriage relations, seemed
to be unwilling to take a broad view OF
the subject. and discussion was quick
| ly squelched. The convention decided
that because the state had never had
divorce law except during Radical
rule, it should never have a divorce
law, and that was about as much con-
sideration as the question got.
The manner in which the question
was disposed of was certainly not
creditable to a body like a constitu-
tiOnal convention.
The greatest teacher that ever lived,
Jesus Christ, said that there should be
divorce for one thing. The people Of
South Carolina profess full and COM
plete endorsement Of the teachings OF
Jesus Christ: but in this matter the
lawmakers assume wisdom superior to
the Greatest Teacher.
The constitution Of this state should
permit divorce for adultery.
The question does not admit of ar
gument Because there is no divorce
for this cause we have murder in
stead. Divorce is better than murder,
even higher law" murder.
But even if the state will continue in
disobedience to the Divine counsel
with regard to divorce, it should listen
to the voice of common sense in the
matter of marriage laws.
| The marriage age for females should
not be less than IS years, and males
should not be allowed to marry until
they are 81.
No couple should be allowed to con-
tract a marriage without having first
secured a marriage license from proper
authority, whether parental wishes are
to be consulted or not and the matter
of age should certainly be established
| h.r, ,,f, ,.int
issue.
| Many convincing reasons could be
given to show that the state fails in
its duty to its citizens and to posterity
by not keeping record of marriages.
We would not be understood as ia
voring divorce for any other reason
than the one named by Jesus Christ
and we would not be understood as
making the suggestion on the strength
of our own wisdom. We profess to see
good common sense in the counsel of
Jesus Christ with regard to this mat
ter, and such doubts as may remain,
we are willing to settle on faith.
AS we see it, South Carolina has
nothing to be proud of either on the
score of her lack of divorce laws or
Of marriage laws.
S. ID. Jones, the negro postmaster
at Port Royal, is in Jail to answer u
charge of embeZZling $500 of the furds
of the office. Jones was also pastor
of Port Royal church.
Anderson special Of August l6 to
the News and Courier: A little S-year-
old boy by the name of Bryan, met
with a peculiar death at the Orr mills,
this city. this afternoon. 1t seems that
the little fellow was playing with an