Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-07-03
The Finding of the Medical
Board

1t may appear as a matter of surprise
to some to note in the last issue of the re-
port of the State board of health a COM
ment of some length upon the appalling
increase of divorce in Vermont:
The number of divorces is increasing
to such an extent as to threaten the sta
bility of the state. In 1886 the number
of divorces to the number of marriages
was one in 20.03: in 1897 it was one di
vorce in every 10; in 1907 one in S.52
At this rate in the increase of divorces it
will be but a short time before the di-
vorces will equal the marriages. We be-
leve that many influences are at work
to bring these startling results about.
First, the lax discipline in families; child
rem are not taught to render obedience to
parents, hence do not respect them, nor
heed their advice. Without any con-
sideration or appreciation of what mar
rage and home making mean, or the
sacred character of the vows supposed to
be solemnly taken, they hastily assume
this new relation, with as little sense of
the responsibility they assume as they do
in purchasing pair of shoes. Therefore,
instead of conforming to the new envi-
ronment in which they find themselves,
with united effort trying to assmilate
their desires, adapting themselves to the
new relations, they determine not to sub
NIT to the restraints necessary to over
come the petty differences and straight
way seek release in the courts from the
sacred obligations they had assumed to
bear and forebear to love and cherish,
until death do them part. The home
that was to be is deserted and another di-
vorce goes to swell the number which
disgrace the social life under the best
government in the world. The legal caus-
es for which divorce should be granted
should be reduced. The church should
make more emphatic its teaching of the
sacred character of marriage. The state,
the church, the school should all unite in
an effort to discourage hasty, ill-consid-
cred marriages. To this end we could
well afford to return to the custom of re-
quiring that no marriage should be SOL
emnized until the intention of the parties
to such marriage had for some weeks
been announced in public manner pre-
scribed by law. Serious consideration
should be given to the question whether
divorced people should be allowed to
marry again, especially when the divorce
is obtained for others than the biblical
causes, especially whether the church
should allow its ministers to officiate at
marriages OF persons divorced except for
the one cause.
In the above it is stated that "the
church should be more emphatic in its
teaching of the sacred character of mar
riage." Surely; but in order to dc
this it will be quite necessary to gel
more to attend church. The most exalt
ed ideals set forth, the most inspired ut
terances from the pulpit will hardly reach
the ear of the man in the hammock.
We will have to return to the old-fash
oned ideals, call them by whatever name
we will And what has been largely rid
iculed as fad or notion of our chief ex
ecutive may we'll be adopted as saving
of the deplorable situation outlined above
Evade it by any finesse that selfshnes
may suggest, the fact remains that the
complete home, where mutual forbear
ance is the rule and the round of daily
} burden is shared equally by both partners
where children are welcomed and nur
tured in the true spirit of love and sacri
fice-this is Home. and this only.