The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-11

question is from a moral standpoint is an additional reason for referring to the church first in this connection. To the church. to enlightened Christianity, then, we have right to look for the initiative and for overwhelming efforts to establish the much desired refornl It is most con- fdently asserted that the only sure, safe, permanent. effectual elevating, progress sive reform as to marriage and divorce, must be based upon this foundation-the
 preaching and teaching of representatives of the church. accompanied by persistent determination on their part to use every possible effort to prevent improper and imprudent marriages. It is not to De hoped or expected that perfection may be
 attained in marriage, any more than in any other institution involving natural human imperfection.
 '"ro initiate, even to accomplish the re- form, the enactment of church law or canon is not necessary, though here, of all places, is where law, the strictest law, must be applied, if law be desired or nec- essary to secure the desired result, inn
 munity from the disease, divorce, or such immunity as wise. healthful precautions may secure. But. pending enactment of law let every Christian minister who may | be called upon to perform marriage ceremony use diligence to ascertain
 whether the contracting parties are such persons in character, habits and condition | as should in the interest of civilization l and humanity be permitted to marry l Satisfy himself that he is willing to be l held responsible to a reasonable extent 1 that divorce. or perhaps worse, Will not 1 result from the marriage.
 This may be- perhaps should be. sup 1 plemented by church and state laws re- l quiring persons who intend to marry to | give timely notice to the clergyman who l. fl,1 ff1 1 to make the necessary inquiries and inves- | tigation The law of state or nation | should require similar action before issue | of civil license to marry Crushing Disaster.
 | It is inexcusable, he went on; it is court l ing disaster for a nation to permit indi- viduals or it's people to enter into nasty, | needless contracts, marriages, which Jep- 1 pardize it's very life, its prosperity, and l it's greatness, past, present, and future. 1 amongst the great nations of the world. l He said upon this point:
 | 'sThe possibility and probability of eva
 sion of marriage laws b8 going beyond l the limits of jurisdiction do not exist to 1 the same extent as with divorce laws. | The fact that the various branches or | the Christian church are national and ln- l ternational removes state and national l limits from the question, and We may be 1 sure that if we, of the United States, es- l tablsh a much-needed reform, worthy | of the enlightened civilization of this | country, all civilized Christian nations of | the world will hasten to adopt our men, ods.
 Tt is most confidently predicted that l if the Christian churches of the world l will take up this work and harmoniouey, l sincerely and In earnest determine to 1 prevent divorces or limit them to the | least number possible by using all their | power. influence and agencies to prevent l improper and mprudent marriages, hold | ing individual ministers strictly account | able for conscientious painstaking per l formance of their duties, in regard to | performance of marriage ceremonies, as | indicated in the foregoing remarks, the
 much desired reform. which looks SC l hopeless at present, will be accomplished
 before this generation passes away"
 Shadow of Marriage.
 Divorce is only the shadow of mar
 riage which should be prevented, he ex- plained. It is useless to attempt to chase
 an evil shadow from the homes, while the substance which causes it Is per
 mitted to thrive unmoested. He said
 "so much we expect from our choser | guides, our moral preceptors. Now, as tc | our chosen leaders, municipal, state and
 national, may we not look to those ir l the highest places, especially the execu-
 tive, legislative and judicial branches, te