The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-05-18
MASON
URGES REFORM
IN DIVORCES
DISTINGUISHED JuRIsT PLEADS
. FOR UNIFORMITY OF STATUTES.

PARKERSBURG. W. Va. May 49,
That the bar OF this State cooperate
with the bar associations OF other
States in securing the enaction Of uni.
form divorce laws; that greater re-
strictIons be placed on the persons
who apply for marriage licenses; and
that no divorced person be permitted
TO marry within one year after the de.
cree OF divorce has been granted. was
advocated by Judge John w. Mason.
OF Fairmont. in an address before an
open meeting OF the Wood County
Bar Association at the Chancellor no.
Tel parlors last night Practically all
OF the members of the local assocla.
ton us well as a large number Of per.
sons including several ladies', were
present. Judge William n. Miller.
president OF the State supreme court
OF appeals. presided at the meeting.
In introducing the speaker OF the even.
ing Judge Miller referred to Mr.. Ma.
son rs one OF the greatest judges in
the commonwealth.
As an Introduction Judge Mason
said that he did not think that 1t
ought 10 be too easy for people to be
married but that he believed that Il
Should Be- very difEichlt' for them 10 he
divorced. He spoke Of divorce as u
necessity,trIp the fact thai, many In.
nocent pkfsers 5ate ledFin8 marriage.
He reviewed the question from all
sides, examining It critically and
learnedly: not with the zeal OF re.
former. but with the idea OF one who
would prevent the marriage OF per.
sons who are unfit to be united and
Of amending the judicial procedure II
such cases In such q way that divorces
would be less frequent. His address
was learned and scholarly and was
highly appreciated BY all who heard
IL.
Mildly chiticises Pastors.
During the course OF his discussion
Judge Mason took occasion to mildly
criticise ministers who marry persons
whom they know should not be united.
He said: There is a touch of irony
| In the ceremony which most minis
tiers use in marrying persons. 1t us.
ually contains the phrase. What God
hath Joined together let no man put
asunder.' 1t is very often the case
that at least one OF tho contracting
persons has Just been legally separa,
ed ina divorce court"
Continuing he said:
Should persons whose blood is full
of the germs Of thieves, or whose
bodies are covered by putrid sores,
caused by their own vice. be united
in marriage?" Under the present
statutes" he said, at is very often
possible for the county clerk and 4
minister TO override the wholesome
influences OF the divorce court as soor
us 1t adjourns" ~
In speaking of restricted marriages
Judge Mason said that this would not
abolish divorces but that 1t wouI
stop many OF them and that 1t would
save many innocent people.
In reviewing his address Judge Ma,
son laid emphasis on number of 70
forms and changes in procedure which
lie advocates. He said:
First: That no marriage shall be
solemnizcd In This state un'oss tho
!icer issuing the license and the per
son performing the ceremony snail
each certify that. in his opinion, base
upon information and belief, there /!
no legal objection TO the marriage. o
any apparent moral or physical reaso'
why the PARTIES should not be married