The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-21
Minister D clares Life hsde Miserable
by Wlfs's Jeateus'y.
Wife is A CHILD nATER
Cruelty, Neglect and Fear of Bodily
Harm 70 Himself and Children also
Alleged in Rev. Graham's Petition
for Absolute Divorce from Former
School Teacher.

The Rev. Benjamin Graham, re-
Gently pastor Of st. James Methodist
Church of Atlanta, Friday filed suit
for absolute divorce from Mrs. Lorah
Harris Graham. He alleges cruelty,
neglect, fear of bodily harm to him
self and children, unwarranted 1eal-
ousy Of his own children and all the
women OF his church." which, often,
1t ia declared, "culminates in wild
|tantrums of rage" embarrassing to
himBelf and his church.
In a statement issued shortly after
the fling of his divorce petition, Mr.
Graham goes into details regarding
his marital troubles.
He states that before their mar
rias:e his wife was for eleven years
school teacher at Covington. Cordele
and Athens, Ca, and that this, he be-
lieves, is tho cause OF her unusual
feeling towards his children.
my wife Is child hater" he said,
land although, have not believed in
divorce, ! now find that it Is the only
thing possible for the sake Of my
children"
MIR. Graham states that they have
been married twenty-nine months
and in that time he has been COM
peIlsd to spend one-fourth OF his en-
tire time attempting to calm his wife
in her jealous RACES and restoring
peace in his household. His two chill
drer boy of II, and a girl Of 5. are
by former marriage.
ANY attention that I might show
either of the children brought on a
jealous rage on the part Of my wife,
be states. "In the morning If kissed
my little girl my wife would fly into
tantrum. Sometimes it would be
days before she would speak to me.
She declared that when kissed my
own child she felt exactly as If were
kissing another woman. I have
known her to fly into these tantrums
I.s!mply bscause'1 would pass a dish
to one of the children at a Meal.
Sometimes she would rush into the
yard of the parsonage screaming,
drawing a crowd OF idly curious to
the gate.
The minister states that for a year
he las been unable to take his child
rem out even for car ride on account
of his wife, and that once she bought
an automobile. but soon sod 1t be-
cause he asked her to let the child
rem ride in it occasionally on the back
seat
His work for the church has been
ruined Nr. Graham aserts because
his wife has been jealous Of the wo-
men Of his congregation. He could
hardly speak to one Of them, he said,
without spending the next twenty
four hours pacifying his jealous wife,
and often when he went to meet
male mem bers Of the church she
would think he had seen some Of
their wives, and rage would follow.
MI. Graham's resignation was pre-
sented and accepted by the Georgia
Conference, by Presiding Elder j. T..
Dawes. 1t was accompanied by let
ter form the official board Of St..
James Church, commencing Mr..
Graham's work in Atlanta during the
past year.
Mr.. Graham stated that he proba-
bly, would adopt the stage as a ca
reer. He said:
"In moral plays which exert ten
dency to uplift, I believe l could fol-
low an occupation that is parallel
with that of preaching the gospel. i
will still retain my moral attitude,
but seeing no other course, the foot
lights, promise me a means Of liveli-
hood for myself and my two children,
and | probably will adopt it,"
Mr.. Graham is 40 years Of age,
while Mrs. Graham, from whom he
seeks divorce, Is 35.