The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-11-26
Their Plan to Improve State
Divorce Laws Not Radical
Move as Indianapolis Di-
vines Believe.
THEIR REMEDY ONLY
A VERY SIMPLE ONE
Would Compel Person Say
ing He or She Was Free Of
Disease, as Now Required,
to Prove the Fact.

Great surpriJ. was exhibited among
local ciergymen today after learning
Of the action Of the United Conference
of Lutheran ministers, ut indianapolis,
dcnouncing the alleged action OF the
ricfmcnd Ministerial association.
witch l; was olairaod. asked thc-Gov.
crnmcnt to recommend the require
MFR. OF physicisns' certificates in OBJ
taining marriage licenses.
30 action whatever to this effect
was taken by the Richmond assocsa.
tion. The divorce laws Of the state
were. instead, criticized and letter
sent to the Governor by special COM
mittce requesting that he recommend
that the State legislature make the
divorce statutes more stringent.
NIehoison's Suggestion.
Tho suggestion of u medical certi-
fIeate. stating that the applicant FOR
marriage wns not afflicted with any
tuberculine or venereal disease. was
made by Timothy Nicholson. Mt the
Mondays meeting of the Ministerial
association. While local ministers ap-
prove this no action was taken.
I'm stating that this Is proposal
In foolish and wrong the Indianapolis
ministers showed that they were mis-.
informed" said q local minister today.
''One Of the questions now In the mar
riage application Is, Are you afflicted
with any tuberculin ore venereai dis
eascv Now. Mr.. Nicholson's suggest
ion that this provision be enforced.
OF course every one applying for a
license on hearing this question would
answer, Yes"
No suggestions were given the Gov
crnor a. to the methods for improv-
Ing the divorce law. but this will prob
provision should be. according to the
Rev. r. J. Graham, that following a
divorce II would be unlawful to mar
RI for q period OF two years. Then
there should be 4 considerable space
at time between the filing of divorce
applications and the hearings in CIR
cult courts.
The Rev. Arthur Gates condemned
the marriage law this morning and
stated that several arguments ad-
vanced BY the Indianapolis Lutheran
minister against the use of the medl-
cal certificate we're absolutely false.
AZ 70 local Pastors.
why. Of course We frequently turn
down persons who ask to be married. -
said the Rev. Mr., Gates. II notice the
Indianapolis men asked. whether they
(the Richmond ministers) refuse to
ohiciate ut al weddings which in their
opinion should have been licensed.
Well. ] certainly refuse and I don't
believe there 10 . minister In town
that doesn't. Then they say. DO all
ministers satisfy themselves az far
40 possible that the parties bringing
q marriage license are really entitled
10 enter matrimony under the Bibli.
cal rules by which Christian pastors
are supposed to be guidedr know
Of none In the city who does not" said
the Rev. Gates.
II don't believe In making the law
90 stringent that some worthy people
would be excluded" stated the pas.
tor. but each OF the contracting par.
ties should. IN plain words. know what
they are getting. would place moral
~ well N physical obstacles In the
way OF obtaining a license. II the
persons receiving marriage licenses
are satisfied. however. II 10 my opinion
the law should be-"