The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-03-19
REV. M'FERRAN'S IDEA

statement made by the Ministerial
Association and published in the Her
aid of last night The statement as
it appears in the paper conveys the
impression of a strictness which it
is not intended shall be the actual
practice. Each minister is by ex-
press agreement allowed to go behind
the court record and decide for him.
self whether the real grounds for the
divorce were not the so-called Scrip
tural grounds" If the minister Is so
satisfied he will perform the ceremony.
It was stated in the meeting and as
scented to on the part of those signing
the published statement that nine
tenths Of all divorces are really If not
ostensiyely granted on the grounds OF
adultery. With this in mind the state
ment means little or much, accord
ing to the mind of the one deciding.
When, as in our rules of grammar,
the exception is to be tho proof of the
rule, it seemed to me better not to
state the rule in such terms as would
make it appear to say more than was
intended. A rule that can be stretch
ed to include nine-tenths of all posi-
BILE cases cannot be said to be also
very strict.
The Interpretation of the word as
made, by the ministers is altogether
too narrow to suit Biblical usage.
In the Old Testament the word is
used again and again of the whole ma
ton in their relations with Jehovah.
1t is not thought by anyone that the
physical sense of the word is even
in the mind of the different writer's.
Jesus speaks number of times OF
His whole generation as "adulterous.
Surely no one thinks that Christ
menat to bring a gross charge against
the most moral nation of antiquity.
In both the Old and New Testaments
the word has spiritual meaning and
in this sense Christ applied it to His
generation. The real adultery is the
alienation of good will, the absence of
confidence, the presence of distrust,
dislike, repulsion, etc. Where these
things are present the real divorce has
already taken place. When good will
and harmony and love are gone all is
lost What matters the rest? 1t is
only leather and prunella. This was
the adultery of the generation of
Jesus. The people had all the form
alities of religion. The gorgeous
ritual was never observed with such
exact precision but 1t lacked soul.
There was no heart in it. Therefore
Christ called them alien to God, sep.
arated in soul and spirit, and so adulT
terers.
According to the narrower inter-
probation a man may be a cut-throaty-
a thief, a liar, even murders4;
might never say word except
abuse of the most coarse and cri&
kind, and yet it is moral for the
woman who divorces such monster
to remarry only II he has added this
other illicit relation. surely that is
saving a rule and damning humanity!
Is it not like society's rule that man
can be anything provided he knows
how to use correctly the spoons and
forks.
Is it not also dangerous ground for
a minister to occupy when he under
takes to pronounce morally culy Fle
those whom the Judge hassN ~
nounced innocent,-and that after
most thorough Investigation? The
minister has no means n investiga-
ting, and is not accustomed to sift
evidence as the judge does every day.
Is not such an attitude illegal? Is it
not lawless
The stand taken is not conducive
to morality. The ministers themse- YES
acknowledge that it is for the best
interests Of many that they remarry.
Yet if the best interests of humanity
are to prevail the rule must be VOL
ated. repeat what said to the
brethren: II do not think the ule
with their Interpretation either good
Scripture or good morals" The laws
of God are all in the interests of
humanity. The minute a law or Gus
tom or usuage is out of harmony with
minute it loses all that was Divine in
it,
The rule | wished adopted, but which
did not commend itself to the breth-
rem, was a simple one 1t is the rule
follow. The rule is not original
with me. 1t is followed by most OF
the ministers of my acquaintance.
1t is to marry only the innocent party
to a divorce. This rule puts ban
on the guilty only. 1t does not stig-
matise the innocent.
One question 1t does not solve What
is to be done with the guilty? He
must suffer for his guilt There can
be no compromise with that con-
fess that II is in the interests of his
morality oftimes that he re-marry.
Though guilty, II is not for the minister
to make recovery harder. | can see
no other course than to let him go
elsewhere. | cannot get the consent
of my inner man to overlook the
guilt
Besides Offering the above rule as
substitute for the one carried, Of
fered as additional that we recognize