The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-18
THE DIVORCE QUESTION

The crying evil is in keeping sucl
couples together and not in allowint
them to separate.
Modern psychology teaches thai
Thoughts are things" and are cen
ters of force radiating through space
and producing in the universal etheri,
substance thought forms correspond
ing to the projecting thought. The,
create, therefore, an atmosphere il
which society lives and moves and
breathes. Such homes then become
moral pestilence breeders, in which
the children are raised and society 81
large lives. The demoralizing effect
OF divorce granting is soon over, but
the baleful effects of a discordant
family continues as a menace to the
state SO long as the union continues
Monogamy is indeed the true posi-.
ton respecting marriage, but it IS
not the keynote of the family idea
this keynote, as has been said. is
affinity. Affinity in its very nature is
indissoluble unto death, and is the
most sacred of forces, producing a
union that is a sacrament indeed: and
being a soul-marriage, in the very
nature of the cases, projects itself
into the beyond, not as marriage on
the physical plane, but as welded
soul to soul, thus constituting member.
ship in Gods family in the heavens.
The hereafter is more than mere
friendship, as the reverend gentleman
suggests; it is more than fellowsip.
it is family relationship based upon
- a. Il ~
The chief objection offered by Rev.
Dr. Scudder to the New Life" concep-
ton of marriage is that its aim is hap.
but this ia not the position
taken by the New Life or New
Thought movement respecting mar
riage, but it declares for character
building, and asserts that happiness
is the result that inevitably follows,
where true marriage has been effect.
ed, for true marriage means love and
harmony.
Again, it is a mistake, as held by
political science, that the state rests
upon the family. Primarily and chiefly
It rests upon the individual. Daniel
Webster, in stating what constitutes
the state, in a public address, said il
is made up of men, high-minded
men," and Webster was correct.
Gods ultimate purpose is not to build
up the family, as it is known on earth,
which is but institutional and ephem.
eral; but through the family as an
agency to build up individual charac-
tiers. Man as Gods noblest work
his offspring-standsa above all that IS
AS Jesus said of the
Sabbath, so We say of the family and
The state, they were made for man,
and not man for the family or the
state. If man was merely human, as
ne is usually held to be, then he
would be but ephemeral and perish.
lble, and the question of subordina-
ion would be simply a question as to
he relative Importance of the institu-
ion. To man was given dominion
,ver all the works of Gods hands. All
must yield to mans do
ninion, and contribute to the unfold
nent of the divinity within him. All
are strong or weak ac.
.ording as the individual is domin-
tied by the carnal or the spiritual IN
lin.
1t is a mistake again that sacrifice,
carries the idea of burden
fearing for others. Primarily it is
ndividualistic, the crucifying of ones
usts and baser passions, that the
allen soul may rise above them In
hort, it means self-mastery. The
ltruistic sacrifice is secondary. So
ere, again, the individual takes the
recedence.
The attitude of Rev. Mr.. Scudder
the duties of church and
tate is well taken. The church and
is ministry do not exist for the sol
of marriages, orr for the
of any other institu- /
ional rite, not even those of baptism .
nd the Lords Supper The true .
purpose of the ministry is to Preach |
he World" to hold up the Christ be-
ore the minds of the people. Letting
tself down to the plane of the COM
lercial and the institutional, as too .
ften the church has done, divests it .
f divine power and thwarts its very
purpose in the world. 1t is the prov
nee of civil governments to attend to
he institutional and decide to whom .
ivorces should be granted, and to
'hom the privilege of remarriage .
hould be extended