Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-24
BELIEVES WORLD GROWS BETTER
Scores Divorces and Those Who Seek
Separation.
ONE CONDITIONS ARE APPALLING
Church Must Step in and DiScOurag'
Present Methods,
Great Religious Reforms Taking on
New Form and Men Becoming
Active in ReIigious
Work.

BALTIMORE. Md, July 23.-(Special Tel
eRram. .)-Cardinal Gibbons celebrated ms
seyenty-sixth birthday quietly TO-DAY Al
though the cardinal was averse to puphc
dop,onstration. commemorative services
we're held in a number Of the Roman Cath
olic churches. Scores Of congratulatory tel
eErams came from the United states ana
Canada and cablegrams from Europe.
warm message of conRratulation and hope
for many more years of happy life ana
service was received from the pope.
Later in the day Cardinal Gibbons spoke
of the onward movement Of Christianity.
He did not confine himself to the progress
of the Catholic church, but included all de-
nominations and praised the men VINO give
part of their time to the church
Cardinal Gibbons said he hoped to live
70 see the time when divorce shall be COM
pletely discouraged in America and that
other reforms urged by all churches ahke
shall be established. Said he:
"As | look back over the years, 1 see
much that has been accomplished and much
that might have been accomplished, but
was not
Much Good Accomplished.
But as 1 survey the condition of the
worldas it obtains today, l eralize, as do
other men, that much good has been ac-
complished ythe present generation. The
christian spirit has been awakened into life
in both high and low places. Within the last
three months there has been certain agita-
ton, widespread and conducted by both
men and women, showing that our christian
ideals are not faltering nor wavering.
Great religious conventions and public
acclaim for reforms are somewhat differ
atpf. re
ago. 1 believe that the men of affairs
big, well-to-do and powerful in business
matters-are taking a more dominating
part today than ever before in the solution
OF moral questions.
Years ago religious bodies were made up
largely of women; women fought for re
forms and it was believed, quite errote-
ousiy, that men did not have time for such
matters.
obligations fall upon men and women
alike. In the church and out, we Nhave
out duties The awakening which has
called men to sense of their duty Under
the laws Of God, came at psychological
time in a splendid progressing age. The
luxury Of riches and the power of money
too often makes religion a perfunctory
affair and charity a business-like dispen-
| sary of money.
Even now we must deplore the lack
of observance for the Sabbath In some
quarters. SuDdey is day of rest, but it
should not be turned into a day of wild
abandon.
Respect Wishes of others.
'7Thore who get their recreation In
violent, noisy manner should respect the
wishes of the persons who seek quiet and
communion on the Sabbath.
I'VE are facing the gravest question OF
civilization Just now-the divorce. The
| church discourages divorce because 1t is
discouraged by higher divinity than the in
stitution of the church. Christ, in his SER
mon on the Mount, said that a woman
could have only one husband and that
| IL she JYere divorced and married again,
she spent her life in sin with her second
or third husband, as the case might have
been.
1T is appalling to think that women Of
today marry four or five times. Some
women seem so thoughtless about the
noblest rite that they give more attention
Continued on Second PaRel