The Detroit times., 1908-12-15
DIVORCE COURT IS
HELP NC NATION,
He SAYS
RABeLsEEs HIGHER PLANE THAN
MORAL WEAKNESS IN EUROPE
MEN WILL FOLLOW MORAL
LAWS SOME DAY.

grading the nation. and that the Ole
world would lose much OF its mora
weakness IL its laws for the sever
ance OF marriage bonds were mor'
liberal, were assertions made by the
Rev. DR.. Joseph Krauskopf. or the
Temple Keneseth Israel.
Rabbi Krauskopfs address was
based on the revelation recently MADE
by the National Census Bureau or
marriage and divoree-that one wed
ding In every IL ends in a legal sep
aration, and that three-fourths OF thosS
who seek severance OF the marta
ties are women.
The title OF his address was The
Marring OF the Marriage Bond. lie
called attention TO the reports or the
census bureau. which show that near
= " two million husbands and wives
have been, separated. within the last
20 years, and said:
This report, though no surprise 70
those who have observed the trend OF
things in late years, has startled the
nation and has kept the prophets oil
III quite busy since It's publication.
Some of these are practically count
ing the days when marriage Will be
no more. Basing their estimate upon
the present rate of divorce, they claim
that In the year 1920 every marriage
entered into will ultimately be sew
cred by law. Trial marriages, advo-
Gated few years ago as novelty.
according to their view. becomes
reality"
Sees Hope in the Figures.
While the figures OF the census.
Rabbi Kraufskopf said, were sadden-
ing, he failed to find reason for utter
disbursement of for such predic-
tons as those given by THE Proph-
cts Of ILL.," He declared that he was
inclined to discern In the facts pres
ented hope for brighter day, a
nobler conjugal life and larger do
nestle happiness than has ever OBJ
tanned In human society. He set forth
his reasons for these opinions by say
ing:
when l analyze the causes OF I'M
happy marriages, when | note by
whom, for the most part. divorces arc
sought. to whom they are granted. and
for what cause; when ! find that two
thirds of divorces are granted to
wronged women, that wives find It,
more and more insufferable TO con-
tinue yoked to husbands who have dis
graced their manhood. who have vio-
lated the sanctity of womanhood. who
have polluted the purity OF the marital
tie--when these facts note | see the
day coming when marriage will have 4
far different meaning from what 1t has
now. when entrance to IL will consti-
tute a coveted privilege, not a con-
~aptanoa cnaanla tipu nr diversion
when purity. not purse. will consti-
tute the absolutely necessary prere-
qufsite, he honor that Is now
demandeG i an will be demanded
of men, whea a arh OF Il in man will
constitute as much of bar TO mar
riage, or TO continuance of il, as a
lack OF IL now constitutes bar to
woman.
THAT there are more divorces In
cur country than in Europe We freely
grant, but we are not prepared to
grant that the fewer European d.
vorces are a sign OF larger morality
than IL found among US, or OF higher
regard for the sacredness Of marriage,
or Of a greater respect for woman
hood.
Barring the vices and crimes ram.
pant among large numbers OF Euro
pean settlers in our country and
which foreign settlers constitute a con-
siderable element In our divorce
courts, the morality OF the American
not only equals but even exceeds that
OF the European.
"The fewer number OF divorces In
European countries are due principally
TO the fact that in very large num-
Der Of them the church as well as
the law forbids divorce. A wife in
these countries may suffer the agon!es
Of hell. her husband may neglect her.
stsrve her. abuse her, outrage her.
dishonor her. he may be a drunkard.
an idiot, brute, criminal, he may
consort illicity with a dozen other
women, there is no help for It, she il
yoked to him for life. She can escape
from him only through the gateway OF
the grave.
Although half dozen match
makers may have labored assiduously
70 effect the match, and although
parents and notaries may have bag
gled long over the dover settlement,
religion and law proceed In these
countries on the theory that the match
was made In heaven and what God
has Joined no man shall put asunder.
American Women Draw Line.
THE American woman will not
cannot, condone moral depravity lr
her husband. in the father OF her chit
dren. AS pure as he wants her. Sc
pure does she want him. or not al
all. Her whole nature revolts against
continuing In holy wedlock. In its full
meaning. with man whose every
thought is vice, whose every breath Is
pollution, whose body is a sink OF cor
ruption, a whited sepulchre.
For the sake OF the public she will
suffer quietly much and long. but In
the end she will value her sef-respect
more than the public's opinion and
free herself from a presence tina;
poisons her moral atmosphere. that
debases her body. soul and mind.
I'VE shall continue TO hear annually
OF large numbers OF marital separa
tons But within these large numbers
Hes our hope. The two sexes and their
necessities and laws continuing side
by side. and wives continuing TO male
the same moral demands on husbands
that husbands make on wives. men
Will be Under the necessity OF grow.
ing up to the heigh. which woman has
set as a goal before the portals OF
blessed matrimony will open 10 him,
before permission will be granted him
TO continue within that paradise. IA
the enjoyment OF the pure love and
the uplifting companionship OF a de
voted and affectiOnAtei wife