The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-28
immortality at Home.

In a recent sermon by Bishop Cranston
in Washington. the subject OF which was
the Fairbanks episode, the bishop took
occasion to make a comparison of ma
lions, lauding our own enlightenment 90,
and dwelling in particular manner upon
the immortality of the Porto Ricans,
thus establishing, as he supposed, a
stronge point against the religious belief
which holds sway in Porto Rico.
As this seems to be a favorite diver
sion among a certain class of biased
thinkers. I take the liberty Of asking. at
the risk Of being considered unpatriotic
Is there not. by far. more immortality in
our own country. the United States. than
in any other part OF the world?
The test of the moral status of any
nation or community is the family; there
fore, In order 10 gauge the moral status
of the United States. It Is simply neces-
sary to refer to the statistics relative
to marriage. What an appalling indict-
ment against the nation is written
therel What disgraceful history Is being
prepared for future generations! What
shocking sense OF inconsistency to
point the finger at any other country
the immortality OF which fades into in
significance when compared with the
notorious degeneracy OF our own peo-
pie!
One marriage In every eight ending in
the divorce court! And this ratio is
growing. The divorce rate, like the
velocity OF a falling body, is constantly
increasing states a late report of the
Census Bureau. showing that in the past
nineteen years nearly $4,000 divorces
have been recorded.
How many thousands OF children have
been affected by these divorces: have
seen their homes destroyed. and have
been thrust out into the world 10 meet
conditions as best they can. and with
the power OF their parents evil example
worked into their lives? A divorce for
every eight marriages! Truly, the Amer
lean home is drifting into sad straits:
the family, which IS the touchstone of
the nations morality. is dlsintegrating.
and America is fast becoming an object
Of scorn 70 the world
Everybody knows what have been the
fruits OF this national trait. In the face
Of the Divine command, What, there
fore. God hath Joined together, let no
man put asunder," the laws Of this
country not only permit divorce freely
and cheerfully. but permit also the d.
vorced parties to remRrry. The results
Of this permission are rapidly bringing
the morals OF the United States to an
extremely low standard One reads Of
some social leader being divorced at 2:30
p. m. and in the same article the uplift-
ing announcement that at $3.50 p. m,
same date, same social leader is again
married by Rev. Mr.. Somebody, to some
wealthy but worthless person whose
photograph has appeared in ali the pa
pers in connection with the divorce pro-
oeedings. Not only one divorce, but
any number OF divorces and remarriages.
as you Ike. AS Mr.. Langdon Mitchell,
the playwright, says in THE New York
Idea"
Modern American marriage is like q
wire fence-woman Is the wire and the
posts are the husbands One, two. three.
and IL you cast your eye over the future
you can count them. post after post, I'D
hin and down dale. all the way 10 Da-
kota."
simultaneously. pOlygamy among the
is respectable beside this idea
OF successive poIygamy. In one case
the family is protected; the other leads
10 the destruction OF all family life
those who stand aghast at
affinity marriage" and at the same
time accept divorce, are very Illogical
Divorce began with this argument:
Henry VIII found that Katharine was
not HIS affinity. but Anne Bullen was,
and then Jane Seymour. and half dozen
or so. Divorce for one cause brings
about divorce for any cause, and finally
divorce for no cause at all. and stats
ticians stand aghast at the unhappy re-
suits produced by the American divorce
laws, which allow every liberty.
Porto Rico may have a little immoral
ity to deal with. but II is evident that
our people are not the ones TO do the
dealing. At present our morals are the
lowest OF the world. and until some
is done in the United
States OF America II might be well to