The Detroit times., 1915-01-13

fering and misery. even among the
innocent Trustworthy medical
authorities estimate that from 90 to
so per cent of all men have been at
one time or another afflicted with
venereal disease I'm one OF its two
forms How prevalent syphilis Is, not
one knows because OF the secrecy
which necessarily Involves the shame
full disease, and because OF the cow
ardly silence with which II has been
covered A large majority OF surgical
operations upon women, especially
laparotomies, are said to be traceable
To Infection OF such diseases. Most
blindness is due directly or indirectly
10 this one cause. Hosts OF children
are damned into the world rather than
born into II by reason OF this one
thing IL is high time that the state
took some action IN the matter.
"The Protestant Episcopal church
In this diocese. which have the hon
or TO represent, in its annual conven-
ton passed a resolution strongly rec
ommending that before solemniziRg a
marriage the clergyman require a Ger.
tificate from both contracting parties.
certifying that they were free from
any communicable disease. especially
venereal disease. this certificate to be
signed after examination by a reputa-
BILE physician. Not all, by any means,
of our clergy have had the courage to
live up 10 this resolution; some prob
ably have not seen their way clear TO
do so because OF the difficulties in
volved; but some, thank God. have
70 al at h.. ~ ell
sacrifice. II demanded a good deal OF
moral courage to do IT, The object OF
the resolution was educational II
might rally TO II the conscience OF our
fellow-Christians OF other names and
also public opinion. hope IL has had
some effect. possibly even on the pres
ent propositions OF the judicature com
mission.
This provision is going to be diff
cult TO enforce. at least In any effec-
tive form. The ordinary tests OF
syphilis In particular are uncertain
A certain test requires time and also
costs money. We should profit by the
Wisconsin experiment in this matter
where the constithtionality OF the law
was jeopardiZed and It's observance
almost nullifed, because physicians
were practically required to perform
costly service for inadequate pay. But.
whatever the difficulties, innocent
women and unborn children must be
protected from this horrible infection
by the bestial lusts OF men. And this
proposed legislation looks in that d.
rection.
'"The prevention OF hasty and clan
destine marriages and the require
ment OF publicity by providing 60
day interval between the issuance OF
the license and the marriage, and also
the advertising OF the license are also
a long step in the right direction. In
our resolution before mentioned, we
required the publishing OF the banns
before the solemnizing OF the mar
riage. Marry In haste and repent at
leisure is an adage coined out Of
much bitter experience. We know the
truth OF IL here in Detroit, particu-
larly There have been so many Sc
cret marriages OF minors, the unit.
even OF high school boys and girls.
who have run away TO Windsor and
secured the services OF unprincipled
ministers and magistrates. Marriage
is so high and holy an estate, 1t in
such tremendous obligations.
not only between the contracting par
ties but on their part towards the
the state, civilization IT,
self, towards the institutions on which
the community, the state and civiliZa-
ton rest namely, the family and the
home. toward the unborn and the
whole future-marriage is of such q
character that III is not by any 10 be
entered into unadvisedlv and lightly,
but reverently, discreetly. advisedly.
soberly. and in the fear of God And
anything we can do by law to enforce
due consideration Of it's dignity and
possibilities is we'll done
"As TO the provision in regard to
divorce anything that can slow down
our divorce mills is a good thing. II
ought not TO be possible for divorce
to rush from the divorce court to the
license clerk and the Justice OF the
peaces Office TO contract new and,
probably, equally temporary alliance.
The 60 DAVIS DELAY before granting
the conditional decree and the four
wait before that conditional
decree becomes absolute are excellen
provisions. The making Illegal OF di.
vorces granted in other states Tor
causes arising while the parties lived
in Michigan will stop many excursions
to Reno and South Dakota, a consum-
nation devoutedly to be wished
"But this suggests another action,
most imperatively needed and now
about 10 be taken up for consideration
by the federal congress, namely the
passing Of new amendment to the
constitution OF the United States, Civ