The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-29
MISSION PRIEST
DENOUNCES THE
EVIL OF DIVORCE
Father Wickham Lectures at
st. JOseph's Church
Meeting.
BUILDING CROWDED
WITH MEN AND WOMEN
Services Held for NOn=CathOlics
by Fathers OF New York
ApOstOlate.

"MarrIac &c and Divorce were the
topics discussed at st. Joseph's r. G.
Church last night at the opening of the
mission for non-Catholics by the
Fathers of the New York Apostolate.
So great was the crowd that women
were seated on long benches in the
sanctuary near the grand altar. The
pews on each side of the main aisle
we're filled with n-Cathollcs and their
Catholic friends.
The Rev. William A. Courtney and
the Rev. John Wickham, the mission
priests. welcomed the men and women
at the door, and Fathers Quirk and
Clark. of the church, escorted them to
seats. Father Wickham ave a lecture
ON Marriage and Divorce" and Father
Courtney answered many written ques-
lions about religion and the Catholic
Church that had been dropped into a
box in the vestibule. Father Wickham
spoke in part as follows:
''There is no sacrament more care
fully guarded by the Roman Catholic
Church than the sacrament of matri-
mony. Many a battle in her history
has been fought for the sanctity of the
sacrament. What God hath Joined to-
gether let no nan put asunder' was
the answer given by a Roman pontif1
TO an English king when the question of
the breaking of the marriage bond was
raised. even though II was clearly evil
lem that the whole British nation
would follow the sceptre In unhappy
schism. The theology of the Catholic
Church Is filed with law and regEla-
lions relative to marriage, and the
church Is always watching out that they
are obeyed. Matrimony is the sacra-
ment Of the home.
"Matrimony il not only a natural
contract between husband and wife, but
il has been elevated for Christians by
Jesus Christ to the dignity of a sacra-
ment. Nations may be justified in abro-
eating treaties with each other: mer-
chants may dissolve partnerships: but
by the law of God the bond uniting hus-
band and wife can be dissolved only by
death.
1.-THE absolute prohibition Of divorce
from the marriage bond, with the right
To marry another. rests on the ex-
pressed words of Jesus Christ and st.
Paul.
"St Paul in his epistle to the Corin-
thians forbids divorce in most unquali-
fed terms. TO them that are married,
not J, but the Lord ~commandeth that
the wife depart not from her husband.
And If she depart, that she remain UNI
married. or he reconciled to her hus-
hand. And let not the husband put
away his WIFE
"The defenders of divorce assert st.
Matthew's gospel allows the injured
consort the privilege of separating from
The nnfaithful one and remarrying.
This meaning cannot be taken when
The context is considered and the light
Of clear and explicit passages thrown
on the question.
'The marital unrest of this country
has reused the activities of all our
churchmen and statesmen. President
Roosevelt has said, Questions like the
tariff n the currency are literally
Of 10 consequence whatsoever com
pared with the vital question OF hav-
ing the unit Of our social life, the
home. preserved Last year In America
seventy thousand divorces were grant
ed. The reckless facility with which
divorce is procured in this country is
an evil most deplorable. Very Many
are now entering marriage with a flip
pancy of mental attitude and a lack of
realization of the true meaning of the
contract. Some three years ago trial
marriages were suggested; that such
n thing could be seriously limited at
means SO lax and low a view of this
great contract as to be In itself alarm
ing. The Catholic Church. like an ever
watchful sentinel. is standing on guard,
protecting the sacrament. the home,
the woman. the children"