The San Francisco call., 1910-10-14
PASTOR DENOUNCES
LAX DIVORCE LAWS
Kew. C.L. Mears Predicts Reform
in Nevada, Declaring State
Has Been Abused

ALAMEDA. Oct lS.-That the laws
OF Nevada Will be made so stringent
that il will no longer be possible tc
slip the matrimonial bonds on a mo
nnent's notice is the belief Of Rev
Charles l. Mears. pastor of the FRS
Congregational church of Alameda and
former pastor of the Reno Congrega
uonal church. He so declared in Z
lecture given before the Unitarian clut
last night
Pastor Mears called his talk Coco
go Blood" and described scenes II
Reno at the time Of the Jeffries-Jo ohm.
son prize fight. In the course OF his
address the speaker said that Neyads
was more sinned against than SHINING
and that many Of the sensational re-
ports sent out were incorrect.
COMMENT ON DIVORCE COLONY
Speaking OF the divorce colony Rev
Mr.. Mesrs said
The divorcee, when she made her
appearance in Reno a few years
ago, was given a large welcome.
Lawyers were happy. the merchants
saw great profits ahead society
felt the thrill of including the
names Of people who had been
New York; even the state univer-
sity welcomed people Of talent who
could take French as an elective
and shine IN the social and musical
affairs Of the university.
II all looked like good red blood,
and churches bOasted that prom
inent divorces were singing in the
choir. or occupied prominent pews
in the church.
One Judge. in an interview in a
san Francisco paper, glOried In the
fact that Nevada could so easily
free dissatisfied peoples Of the earth
#rfn- sol HnTHF FHrr q
fortunately for every one, the nc
ton which made the application for
divorce a sign Of good red blood
has had some very serious backsets
IN the last year, and 1t is now hard
TO find any one who is very enthu
siastlc about the divorce business
in Nevada.
STORIES CALLED SCANDALOUS
First scandalous stories began to
appear from all quarters regarding
some Of the most attractive mem
bers of the colony and the social
- lines in Reno were little more
a carefully drawn. Then the uniVer-
sity girls, who had been entirely
eclipsed by the wealthy winsome,
would be widows, voted to exclude
them from the social gatherings of
the university; then the faculty
changed the rules of entering the
university, so that divorcee was
unable TO enter.
The newspapers, filled with the
sickening details of domestic infeli-
city, began 10 have an effect upon
the thought of the entire commun-
lty regarding marriage. One little
girl Of four years, after listening
TO a discussion by the father and
mother at the table, said to her
mother: Mama, I'd divorce him"
Businessmen began to see the
profits Of few hats and Partisan
suits is more than Cancelled when
the confidence in the home is under
mined and the most sacred insti-
tuition Of society is looked upon as
q Joke.
LICENSE BEFORE DIVORCE
The experiences of a minister in
Reno with Divorces being pre-
sented with their maiden names so
rapidly that it is impossible TO keep
account, is anything but enviable,
especially If he is conscientious.
Only last week a couple We're so
anxious 10 get married that they
applied for marriage license be-
fore the decree had been granted.
Ny last experience was interest
ing. I was asked to be ready for a
ceremony at o'clock. 1 asked for
the circumstances and was told that
The divorce decree would be granted
al $3.50 o'clock. that special ar
rangements had been made to have
z marriage license issued at $50,
the couple would leave on the 1880
train, and the newspapers had
promised not 70 publish the we'd
ding. When I refused. asked them
If they blamed me and they said
. they did not.
Undoubtedly the laws of some
states are too rigid. but il is better
2 thousand times TO have the laws
too rigid than 10 permit the ira
Vesty on the home which must con-
tinue in Nevada until the legisla-
ture changes the present law. The
anti-gambling law, which was re-
Gently passed viii undoubtedly be
followed this winter by similar di-
Norce and prize lighting laws.