South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-27
CRYING NEED OF NATION
UNIFORM DIVORCE LAW
Some Causes of Divorce Are
Economic independence of
Women-State Has No Right
to Change Gods Law.

THE Divorce Evil was the inter
esting subject of the evening sermon
at the First Christian church by Rev.
+. h Van Wrinkle Sunday. In part
the pastor said: There is no evil. un-
less il be the social evil itself, that
is increasing so alarmingly and is
working such havoc in homes and
society as the divorce evil.
Oscar J. Smith lays before us some
statistics showing that since 1857
there have been two million divorces
or four million divorces in the United
States. There were los. 900 divorces
in 1913. The rate per 1000 people
has quadrupled. The divorced peo-
pie since 1867 would. If placed side
BY side, equal an army extending from
New York city TO Chicago or equal TO
the combined standing armies OF
Great Britain, France and Japan. The
causes of such increase in divorces are
many. Among them are the economic
independence Of womer due to the
opening Of new ways To make a liV-
ing; the desire for personal liberty
and happiness and the growth of in
dividualism. Some care more for
CARRYING out their own ideas of happi-
ness than they do of their souls saliva
ton and hence disregard the laws OF
God. Others have come TO think that
love and affection are paramount TO
the legal obligation Of marriage, and
that unless love has ceased. the legal
bond should be dissolved. Others are
not properly taught as to the duties
and responsibilities of marriage, and
hence avail themselves of the loose
laws on divorce almost the first time
things DO not appear as rosy as they
had dreamed.
1t is perfectly plain then to all
that he who respects the laws of COO
can never seek divorce on any ground
than fornication This law does not
pertain simply TO those who profess
christianity, but to all who have en-
tered into or seek to enter into the
marriage relationship Marriage is a
divine institution. The first wedding
was solemnized by God himself. The
law of Christ is What God hath
joined together let no man put asun-
der" The state has no right TO
change this law. Nor have the peo-
pie the right to avail themselves of
the law of the land, contrary to the
law of Christ on this question. To
adopt the divorce law of Christ is to
duOpl oil duCnudNt ulAlAOA III NANOi -
for one nation. This is the crying
need of our land today. The welfare
and right and privileges of husbands
and wives and children demand a
Christian uniform divorce law.
Young people should be taught
both in the home and in the church
the sacredness of the marriage vow
and relationship. We do not mean to
say that there are no causes which
Justify separation. There may be
several such causes but not for di-
vOrce and remarriage. Most men
think the innocent party in a scrip
tural divorce may marry again. but
no others are elegible except in the
instance of the unbelieving husband
or wife leaving the other because OF
differences over religion. In that
case the Christian is not bound.
Cases like those are rare. However,
the Scriptures in this case cOunsels
the Christian 70 mary a believer and
thus prevent trouble arising from this
source. We need more of common
sense, thOughtfulnesS III entering up
on the marriage relation ship and more
regard for the life contract then
made. Christ alone can redeem our
home life and give us the graces of
purity, fOrbearanCe. patience, forgive
ness and love that will make the
home what it ought to be. and hand
down to pOstOrity the blessings to
which are children are Untitled