The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-11-24
EASY MARRIAGES.

A great deal has been said from
pulpit. from convention PLATFORM,
through newspapers, and otherwise,
about the evils of divorce. No one
will deny that divorce, easily obtain
ed, as it is at present, is an evil-an
evil that must be reckoned with in
the not very distant future. For the
present, however. we have no argu-
ment for or against the question OF
divorce. leaving that for a future time
when there may be some likelihood of
obtaining relief.
But what of easy marriages? II
seems to us that the ease with which
any two people OF opposite sex, no
matter what their moral or intellect
ual condition unless, indeed, one or
both be of unsound mind-who may
20 to the pastor Of some church, or
10 justice of the peaces or other civil
official. and be Joined in the bonds of
wedlock for the mere asking, without
payment of small fee, or, perhaps
no fee at all has a dangerous element
in it.
Why should a minister of the gos-
pei, a justice of the peace, or civil
officer of any sort. be permitted to
marry people Unfortunately? TO
make two people, no matter whether
what their financial o. physical condi-
ton may be-. man and wife. for the
asking? Why should minister oil
the gospel, or a civil officer. be per-
mitted to bind two people in marriage
when il is self-eyident that the con-
tracing parties are clipping? Why
should a minister. or civil officer, be
permitted to marry two young people
because those two people wish to have
the knot tied. when II is apparent thai
the husband has not the means to
support a wife and has a reputation
OF her shiftlessness. etc? Why in
fact. should minister, or civil Of
ficer, be permitted TO perform a mar
riage ceremony without being held in
at least, some small part. responsible
for the act performed
How many fathers and mothers
have been saddeaed because some
minister. or civil officer. has perform
ed marriage ceremony merely be
cause the man was able to pay q
small fee for the service performed
without first asking the parent why
he. or she, omjecis. no matter whether
the contracting parties be OF legal
age or not
IL would be an easy matter fc- the
officiating clergyman or civil officer
to learn why a runaway couple wish.
Cd 10 be married without the pale OF
their parents eye; il would be no very
hard matter TO learn why parent OBJ.
jected 10 the union Of daughter OF
son with some person whom he had
reason 10 believe would not prove
good husband OF wife. We belieys
the time is quite near al hand when
some Of this. III present. unlimited
authority exercised by ministers and
civil authorities should be better safe.
guarded 50 that many undesirabl,
marriages may BE- prevented.
When reading speeches delivered
from pulpit or rosirum through
newspapers. q the evils Of divorce
delivered or written 81 ministers
We cannot help but wonder how lonf
Il would be b. before these self-sam,
people would ~ performing a mar.
riage ceremony simply because SONS
one was willing 70 pay tie fee asked
Or expected.
There Is another feature Of thii
matter that viii bear thinking about
that Is freak marriage ceremonies
We have IN 4 mind an item undo. al
Indianapolis date. telling Of how /
couple we're wed by a minister. VII,
stood on the step u an automobile
while The car vas being driven a
high rate Of speed; o. marriages a
county fairs. 81 the theater stage
ETC.. and We cannot help but beliey'
inai The man who performed the bol!
marriage service vas thinking nor,
q the fee that % the consequence o
bis act
Somewhere The good book say
something Ike this Cast the mot
from thine own eye before pickinl
the bean from the eyc o. Thy broth
er.s
,,-,,-.s-..>