Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-22
PRESBYTERIANS
URGE ABOLITION
OF ALL DIVORCE
REPORTS TO ASSEMBLY MAY
CAUSE CONFLICT
SUNDAY SPORTS AND ACTIVITY
ADVERSELY CONSIDERED
Eight Administrative Boards Expected
to Be Combined-More Religious
Education FaVored-Home
Conditions Criticised


II ENVER, May 21.-A quietus on
Sunday amusements and activi-
IL ties. the abolition of divorce and
the urgency of religious education were
the subjects that started the business
of the general assembly of the Prespy-
terrain church with rush TO-DAY
Two other subjects which threaten 10
cause much parliamentary conflict be-
fore the end of the session-the report
of the executive commission ana the
report of the committee on admnistra-
tive agencies-also were brought be-
, fore the assembly by DR.. j. b. Mottatt,
q, former moderator and president of the
Washington and Jefferson college OIL
Pittsburg, and by the former moder-
ator. Dr. B. p. Fullerton of st. Louis.
DR. Moffatt predicted that this ses-
sion would see the adoption of plan
whereby the eight administrative
boards of the church in large degree
would be consolidated The committee
on administrative agencies, of which
he is chairman, recommended in effect
that each board seek legal advice as
to it's possible powers, that by the eX-
ercise of full authority of each organi-
cation the administrative powers of all
may be centralized.
Powers Scattered
1t has been a subject of comment In
the church that the administrative
powers have been too mt scattered,
and it has been the work of the COM
mittee on administrative agencies, APP
pointed by the assembly of 1905, to
formulate a plan for consolidation.
The subject was made special or
der for Monday afternoon.
The subject of marriage and divorce,
covered by the report of the committee
of that title, together with the other
reports submitted today, have been
published in book form and distributed
among the commissioners in order that
each may be conversant with the con-
tents of the report before the matters
are taken up for discussion.
The committee, which asks permits
further to consider this subject for re-
for report to the next assembly, calls
attention to the alarming increase of
the number of divorces granted, as
shown by the government census.
THE census" the report says, tells
story that surprises the people and
shames a Christian nation"
Continuing the report says:
Laxity Is DepIored
Although it is a fact to be deplored
that this scandal and sin and sorrow
resulting from the laXity of law that
makes divorce and speedy remarriage
tinuance and that the efforts to re-
sist and lessen these evils, that threaten
the permanence and purity of the fam
lily life, the stability OF the state and
the life and power of the church, seem
unaVailing, yet the united efforts of
the churches. Of national and state of
ficials, of officials of the bar associa-
tions and as conspcuously the faith
ful man and persistent work of the
National Divorce congress, which in
Vited the reports of the inter-church
conference to confer with it, encourage
us to believe the movement has made
great progress, and to hope that re-
forms will be accomplished which will
in time wipe out much of the dishonor
and disgrace that makes Christian
America conspicuous and permitting
laXity that makes our record our
shame.
There is a strong sentiment yet
against the enactment of a national
law regulating marriage and divorce.
owing to the jealousy of states to pre-
serve their rights. But the states
should seek the closest possible uni
formity and secure the least possible
perpleXity and the best results for the
purity of our people, and for the peace
and prosperity of our Christian ma
ton.
Statistics Submitted
I'VE submit the following statistics:
In 1887 the total number of divorces
granted was 2791S; in 1905, 1902. The
total number granted in twenty years
was 945,625. Certain of the states
granted divorces as follows:
pennsylvania, 1883, 1871 divorces and
in 1906, 9027; New York, in 1887 1912;
1906, 2069: North Dakota, in 1857, 81 di-
vorces; 1906, 800; Ohio, 1887. 1908; in
1906, 47Sl; kentucky, in 1887, 949; in
in i'm
5943: Massachusetts, in 1887, 1872; in 1906
154O, and Virginia, in 1887, 3O5 divorces
and in 1906, 1914.
surely this surprising and alarming
increase of the number OF divorces
granted should call halt and impress
all who care for their country and love
Righteousness with the necessity of
discovering if possible the causes of
such condition and the possible cure
for such calamity"
The subject of Sunday observance
has been gone into at great length
The report says that the battle for
the maintenance of the American
Christian Sabbath the past year has
been more aggressive than ever.
Ministers Opposing
mot only" says the report, "have
the friends of the Sabbath met with
concentrated opposition from interests
Sabbath, but the past year we have
been saddened by the fact that in an
important battle in New York state
we have encountered the opposition OF
some ministers of the gospel"
The report continues: "Various cities
of the United States have been aroused
concerning the Sabbath, as perhaps in
no one year during the past half CEN
fury. Chicago, New York, Louisville,
Newark, Baltimore, Atlantic City and
Others have agitated this question of
such vital moment to the municipality
and to the nation"
Conditions in several cities of the
United States and in foreign countries
are then reviewed and progress in sew
eral directions noted.
The first report submitted was that
of the executive committee. The re-
mort is championed by DR.. Fullerton,
who as moderator of the last assembly
was ex-officio chairman of the COM
mittee. 1t was at the suggestion of
DIR Fullerton that this report, as well
as the others, were printed for the in
formation of the commissioners before
taken up.
The report of the executive commit
tee follows;
1--WE are glad to report that seventy
five presbyteries and twenty synods
have appointed executive commissions
to cooperate with the commission of
the assembly.
L.. de