The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-22
DIVORCE SHAMtS
! GREAT AMERICAN
NATION he SAYS
Chairman of Presbyterian
Committee on Marriage
Produces Figures Which
Show Growth of the Evil.
- . !
THINK FAMILY LIFE
Is NOW THREATENED
Jealousy of the States Is AS
signed as the Cause Why
No National Law Is Passed
To Remedy Condition.

Denver, May 22.-Sunday amuse-
ments, the abolition of divorce and the
urgency Of religious education we're
the subjects discussed by the general
assembly OF the Presbyterian church
yesterday.
Two other subjects which threaten
ed to cause much parliamentary con-
flict, the report of the executive COM
mission and the report of the commit
tee on administrative agencies, were
brought before the assembly by DR.. D.
j. Moffatt. president OF the Washing
ton and Jefferson college, OF Pitts
burg and by former Moderator DR.. B.
p. Fullerton. OF st. Louis.
DIR. Moffatt predicted that this ses-
sion would see the adoption Of plan
whereby the eight administrative
boards of the church would to large
degree be consolidated. The COM
mittee on administrative agencies, of
which he is chairman. has recon-
mended that each board seek legal adj
vice as to its possible powers. 1t has
been subject Of comment In the
church that the administrative author
ity has been too much scattered, and
it has been the work of the commit
tee on administrative agencies to for
mulate q plan for consolidation. The
subject was made a special order for
Monday afternoon.
Census Surprises.
The report Of the committee on
marriage and divorce said in part:
"The census tells q story that sur
prises the people and shames a Chris
tian nation. Although It is fact to
be deplored that the scandal and sin
and sorrow resulting from the laxity
of law that makes divorce and speedy
remarriage possible show sad and
shameful continuance and that the eff
forts to resist and lessen these evils
that threaten the permanence and pur-
fly of the family life. the stability of
the state and the life and power of
the church seem unavailing.
There Is a strong sentiment
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 nation
I'VE submit the following statictics
In 1887 the total number Of divorces
granted was 27.91s and in 1906 Y ,O62
The total number granted in 20 years
was 945,625. Certain of the states
granted divorces as follows: Pennsyl
vania, 1887, 1907 divorces, and in 1906
1927; New York, in 1887, 1,O42 divor
ces and 2.O69 in 1906: North Dakota
81 in 1887 and 800 in 1906: Ohio
2,003 in 1887 and 4.7s1 in 1906: Ken
lucky. $40 in 1887 and 1850 in 1906;
Illinois, 1853 in 1887 and 5,943 il
1906: Massachusetts. 752 in 1887 ane
1910 in 1906 and Virginia, sos il
1887 and 1.O74 in 1906
No Vice Moderator.
The report of the executive commit
tee was championed by Dr. Fullerton
who. as moderator of the last assem-
bly,, was exofficio chairman of thu
committee. At his suggestion this re
port, as well as others, were printed
for the information of the commits
sioners.
The report on religious education
was discussed Informally at the pre-
assembly conference OF the universit,
and college workers, but was not Off
cially submitted until yesterday.
| The selection of a vice moderator
was not announced. It is believe,
Judge Charles s. Holt. of Chicago, vii
receive the appointment.