Evening star., 1909-05-22
DIVORCE EVIL GROWS
"Christian Nations Shame"
Says Committee.
CENSUS FIGURES CITED
Hope for Reform in Work Of Ma
tional Congress.
PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT
Special Committee on Sabbath OBJ.
servance Submits Report-Disap-
proves Secular Uses Of Day.

teresting reports submitted to the Pres
byterian General Assembly yesterday
afternoon was that of the special COM
mittee on marriage and divorce.
The committee, which asks permits
sion further to consider this subject for
report to the next assembly. calls atten-
tion to the alarming increase Of the
number Of divorces granted. as shown
by the government census.
1.-The census" the report says. tells
story that surprises the people and
shames Christian nation"
See Hope in Congress.
Continuing, the report says:
Although it Is fact to be deplored
that the scandal and sin and sorrow. re-
sulting from the laxity Of law that
makes divorce and speedy remarriage
possible. show sad and shameful con-
tinuance; and that the efforts to resist
and lessen these evils that threaten the
permanence and purity Of the family
life. the stability Of the state and the
life and power of the church seem un-
availing, yet the united efforts Of the
churches. OF national and state OFF,
cials and organizations, Of the Bar AS
sociation Of the United States and con-
spicuously the faithful and persistent
work Of the national divorce congress.
which invited the representatives OF the
interchurch conference to confer with
them. encourage us to believe that the
movement has made great progress, and
to hope that reforms will be accomplish
ed which will in time wipe out much
of the dishonor and disgrace that makes
Christian America conspicuous in per-
mitting a laxity that makes our rec
ord 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 preserve
the closest possible uniformity and Sc
cure the least possible perplexity. and
the best results for the purity Of our
people and for the peace and prosperity
of our Christian nation.
Growth of Divorce.
1--WE submit the following statistics: In
1887 the total number of divorces granted
was 27,91s. and in 1906. 72.O62. The total
number granted in twenty years was
945. .625. Certain Of the states granted di-
vorces as follows: : -
pennsylvania. in 1887. 1,097 divorces.
and in 1906, 3,027.
New York. in 1887. 1.oa2 divorces. and
in 1906 2,O69.
North Dakota. in 1887. 81 divorces,
"ohio, in 1857. zoos divorces, and in
1905. 4,s71
"Kentucky, in 1887. s4s divorces. and in
.Iillinois. in 1887. 2,sss divorces, and in
Massachusetts,. in 1887. 752 divorces,
and in 1906, 1,540.
Virginia, in 1857. 3o5 divorces, and in
1905, 1,O74.
increase of the number of divorces grant
ed should call halt and impress all who
care for their country and love right
eousness with the necessity of discover
ing, If possible. the causes of such con-
ditioD and the possible cure for such a
calamity"
Report on Sabbath Observance.
Among the reports presented to the
Presbyterian general assembly late yes
terday fas that Of the special committee
on Sabbath observance. The report says
that the battle for the maintenance OF
the American Christian Sabbath the past
year has been more aggressive than ever.
Not only" says the report, have the
friends of the Sabbath met with concen-
trated opposition from interests which we
always find inimical to the 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 minister's Of the gos-
pei"
The report continues: Various cities Of
the United States have been aroused con-
corning the Sabbath as perhaps in no one
year during the past half century. Chi
cago, New York, Louisville, Newark,
Baltimore, Atlantic City and others have
ment to the municipality and to the ma
tion.
Conditions in several cities of the
United States and in foreign countries
are then reviewed and progress in sew
eral directions noted.
Recommends Worlds Motto.
On the Sabbath question the commit
tee recommends Canada's aim for 1909
as the worlds motto:
Il. That no employer for gain shall
demand unnecessary work on the Lord 8
day of any employe.
- That no employe for gain shall
willingly work at unnecessary work on
any Lords day.
"3. That every person who works on
the Lords day at any work of real ne
cessity shall have full day of rest that
week. and that no person shall be called
upon to work on two successive Lords
days"
In conclusion. the committee recon-
lows:
That the authority of the Christian
Sabbath is found in the law Of God and
confirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
That the general assembly expresses
Its strong conviction that the sacred char
acter of the Sabbath must be carefully
and strenuously maintained and to this
end entoins all ministers. officers and
members or the Presbyterian Church in
the United States of America to exercise
special care and faithfulness and dis
courage holding funerals on that day.
Disapproves Secular Uses Of Day.
'That the general assembly reiterates
its strong and emphatic disapproval Of
all secular uses of the day, all games and
sports. in civic as also In army and navy
all unnecessary travelling and all excurs-
sions, and urges upon all employers of
labor and captains of industry to recog-
nize the need of the laboring man for his
weekly rest day. and thereby insure his
greater efficiency and happiness and the
greater prosperity of both capital and
labor.
THAT the general assembly urges on all
families not to buy anything on the Sab
bath. to plan for their servants on the
Sabbath and to help to fulfill their relig-
ious duties. and to pay laborers so that
make provision for the Sabbath.
THAT this assembly heartily indorses
the plan of the Saturday half-holiday and
recognizes it as tending to the better
observance Of the Sabbath.
That the general assembly hereby re-
iterates its emphatic condemnation Of the
Sunday newspaper. and urges the mem
bers OF the Presbyterian Church of the
United States OF America to refuse to
subscribe for 1t or read it or advertise
In it.