The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-02-04
BISHOP HALLS PASTORAL
LETTER FOR LENT. 1915

This year In my Lenten Letter an
going to press upon you some eonsid-
erstions concerning the dignity anc
the obligations Of Family Life, which
may well be taken for the subject Of
prayer and determination and hu,
initiation during the penitential sea.
son.
First, let Us clearly understand that
the Family is the real unit in human
life. We are not intended to live "a
isolated individuals, Every one il
born into a family; most Of US form
families Of our own. Family life il
the normal condition for men, women
and children. The mutual affection
and dependence, the give and take OF
a family not only conduces to comfort
but helps to build up and develop char
acter. Where family duties and re-
sponsibilities are neglected, we cannot
expect that men and women will be
prepared faithfully to fulfill larger
duties and service in Church and
State. Gods first institution in the
world is the Family, the cradle alike
of Church and of State.
2. And Marriage is the foundation
of the Family. The Christian law of
Marriage, which is the realization of
Gods original purpose, however this
may have been at times obscured, is
clear: the lifelong union of one man
with one woman, to the exclusion Of
all others on either side. pray re-
member that definition and commit it
to heart). This, of course, like every
noble position in life, involves disci-
pine as well as pleasure. 1t is for
the mutual society, help, and comfort
that the one ought to have of the
other, both in prosperity and adver-
sity." Marriage is not mere con-
tract between two parties during their
mutual convenience; it is state of
life on which persons enter with last
ing consequences and obligations. The
appalling frequency Of divorces
amounting in our State in 1912 and
1913 to one divorce for less than every
eleven marriages. may be traced to
many causes; not least assuredly, to-
the lack of serious consideration with
which its responsibilities are too often
entered on. Let the familiar words of
our Prayer Book (happily adopted by
many who are not of our communion
be engraven in minds and hearts be-
fore they come to be married, that it
sis not by any to be entered into unad-
visedly or lightly; but reverently, dis
creetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the
fear of God" Hasty marriages is one
of the chief causes of frequent divorce.
To check divorce we must teach true
marriage. And this must be the duty
not only of Pastors but of Parents lis
this practically recognized by fathers
and mothers p and of all Christian
men and women, in their reverent re-
gard for Marriage and their steadfast |
witness to its sacredness.
3. Marriage Il quote here from the
English Prayer Book is "ordained for
the procreation of children, to be
brought up in the fear and nurture of
the Lord, and to the praise of His holy
Name" The chief end of Marriage
cannot be ignored or defeated without
most serious risks physical and social.
To play tricks with so delicate an
as the human body is full of
peril. Selfshly, through love of ease
and money, to defeat the natural con-
Of marriage (apart from the
of blessing in the immedi-
ate family is to imperil the continu-
ance of nation or people. The more
highly civilized may sink before those
of less education and culture. This re-
suit is being brought about in New
before our eyes.
d. But children being given, the re-
sponsibility rests with parents to care
for and train land that in the best
ways) those whom they have brought
into the world. Without disputing the
wisdom of free secular education pro-
vided for all children by the State, one
may have fear that the lifting from
theparents of that responsibility tends
unconsciously to tighten their sense of
for training of other
and religious--which the
Public Schools cannot attempt to give,
DR. only to very slight extent.
Good example and influence at
home, regular attendance at church,
systematic religious instruction, all
these are duties that belong TO par
ents, which they are bound to provide
and see to, if they would be prepared
to answer the questions which the
Heavenly Father will one day most
certainly ask concerning their care Of
those to whom He has given life-with