The Washington herald., 1911-10-16
DR.. MCKIM TAKES
ISSUE WITH ROME
Attitude of Church as to the
Divorce Evil.

Declaring that marriage is a divine
institution, and that no man shall put
asunder what God hath Joined together, "
Rev. DR.. Randolph W. McKim, rector
of the Church of the Epiphany. in his
sermon yesterday morning. delivered to
large congregation, charged the Catho-
lie Church with Inconsistency in not car
rying out its dogma Nf indissolubility of
the marriage vow.
The Episcopal Church, said Dr. Nc
Kim, believes in the sacredness and in
dissolubility of the marriage institution,
but recognizes that divorce is sanctioned
by the Bible in cases OF certain miscon-
duct, and the innocent party should have
the right to marry again.
Dogma and Deviation.
TT seems to us to be a mistake to
assume to be more strict than the law
of Jesus Christ" said DR.. McKim, re-
ferring to the dogma of the Catholic
Church not recognizing divorce, "and yet
| the Church of Rome previously failed
| to carry out her pretenses, as abundantly
| shown in history"
DR.. McKim read from a Catholic manual
which recognizes five cases in which a
| marriage may be declared null and void
| Most of them relate to consanguinous
unions. The speaker said that a bulletin
had been recently issued by the Pope
| declaring all marriages between Catho.
lies and Protestants null and void.
'It is absurd to say" exclaimed the
preacher, that in that great communion
! (Catholic) there is no such thing as di-
vorce."
Continuing along this line of argument
DR.. McKim endeavored to prove that
the normal standing in countries which
| do not recognize divorce is lower thar
| in those countries where divorces obtain
| The Catholic Church, according to DR.
McKim, is the only communion which
pretends to believe in the indissolubility
| Of marriage. ..-
same Faith Is Better.
It is the opinion Of DR.. McKim thai
those who intend to enter the bonds Of
matrimony should be of one faith in
order to guarantee them that happines.
which is supposed to be the result OF
unions of such people.
Men and women enter into marriage
relations to-day without inquiring into
their religious beliefs. Many disagree.
ments and great unhappiness is often the
result Of marriages of this kind.
/ OQcdhlnB VI ODcuiCuCc VI IuC woman
to her chosen spouse. DR.. McKim SAID
that Obedience on the part of the WON.
an is one of the marriage vows required
by the church. The prinacy and au
thority of man is established by the mar
riage institution. obedience is her OBJ,
legation to him, and "self-sacrihce and
love" is his obligation to her.
Marriage of Divorced.
The Rev DR.. McKIm attacked tht
ever-growing divorce evil in this coun
try, where. he said, the population in
creases at the rate Of 60 per cent ahC
divorce at the rate Of $50 per cent. H,
said the stability OF society is thereby
endangered, and he advocated that al
those who ignore the laws of the church
with regard to the divorce evil should b,
socially ostracized. He said hasty anS
iinconsiderate marriages, as rule, leaS
TO the divorce courts and IN scathinl
terms denounced the marriage between
q weIl-known American multimillionair,
and young girl in New England recently
and paid glowing tribute 20 those min
ters of the Gospel who. though poor, re
fused to perform the marriage ceremon!
when offered $4,000 fee.
At the opening Of the service the Rev
DR.. McKim referred TO the death OF Jus
/ Itice Harlan, whom he designated as 4
distinguished judge and q peaceful an,
tChriStian gentleman