The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-10-11
NE HOD|STS STAND
FOR RIGID LAWS
To Govern Marriage and Di-
vorce-Federal Control of
Divorce Is Demanded.

Many local Methodists followed
with interest the proceedings of the
Rock River conference, which just
concluded it's sessions at Evanston.
This body accepted the strongest rec
Communications with regard to mar
riage and divorce ever approved by
governoring body of church fthe
Protestant faith.
The conference placed itself on re-
cord as favoring the physical exami-
nation of candidates for matrimony,
federal control of marriage and di-
vorce, statutes forbidding the remar-
rage of divorced persons, except In
certain cases, and laws making wife
abandonment a felony.
The step follows, but surpasses that
of Dean w. T. Sumner, of the cathe-
dral of SIS. Peter and Paul, who. re-
Gently announced that those who
wished to be united in marriage by
him, must undergo a physical exami-
nation for fitness.
For State Regulation.
The recommendations were presen-
ted to the conference by the commit
tee on marriage and divorce. They
are as follows:
Marriage and divorce should be
regulated by the state in most care
full manner. The safeguarding of the
home is the states chief business.
The interest of the state in the family
is paramount to the interest of the
individual member of the family, be-
cause the citizens of the state come
from the home, and are trained for
citizenship, in large part, in the home.
I'VE hold that it is the bounden
duty of both the state and church to
throw about the home every safe
guard, not only for the physical we'll
being of the nation, but for the spir-
itual welfare of generations yet un-
born. To this end we believe there
should be:
Uniformity Of Laws
Federal control of the entire sub
ject of marriage and divorce, insuring
uniformity of laws.
Physical examination fthe con-
tracing parties to a marriage.
wide publicity of the intention of
the parties to enter the marriage
state.
"A law compelling the fling of a
certificate by each party setting forth
all previous places of residence.
"A statute providing that no divorce
may be granted except on scriptual
grounds. 1t should be provided, how
ever, that there may be granted, in
icertain cases, the right of separate
maintenance.
"a statute making abandonment of
a wife by husband felony.
Rigid laws prohibiting the manufac-
;ture and sale of intoxicating bever-
ages, believing, as we do, from a close
study of statistics, that the use of
liquor, directly and indirectly, is one
of the greatest causes of divorce.
1--WE further believe that all mar
riages of our people should be per-
formed by clergymen, and that the
ministry of the church should be dill
ligent in the enforcement of the pro-
vision sof the church discipline gov
erning marriages.
ITO all our members we would re-
iterate: Be We not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers, lest sorrow
come upon YOU"
The only objection to the report
was raised by the Rev. James Rowe,
superintendent of the Chicago Mis-
,sionary Society, who asserted that
the provision for physical examina-
ton is blow struck at the sentiment
tai side of marriage.
Il think the report is pretty far
fetched" he said. 1t seems to be
following the lead of the sensational
lists"
The Rev. Frank Sheets replied
that the report outlined a program
for which the church stands.
"lts provisions make for the well
fare of the race" he declared.