Arizona republican., 1916-09-25
Tempe News Notes
ROUNTREE ON
 DIVORCE ISSUE

The first of the monthly union ser vices of the Tempe churches was held last evening at the Baptlst church and large congregation hs- tened to an interesting discussion or Marriage and Divorce, given by 1 Rev J R. Roundtree, pastor or the Christian church. The ministers aa- dress on this subject was timely Tn that q divorce measure is to be sup mitted to the voters of Arizona TOT their consideration at the NoVemper election -
 Speaking of the reason for the dis cussiOn of the evening supJect noF' Rountree said:
 .sI am one of the old fashioned folk who believe that everything in life should be submitted to a general con sideration of it's relation to the splrl- tual and the eternal; I believe that permanency can be secured ana rlghl- eonsness exalted only as we llft our eyes unto the hills whence cometh orl help and lean upon the Author of fife for direction and inspiration in aU our temporal and civil affairs. My inclinations are orthodox. not through any puritanical sanctimon- iousness hut because I have observed i that the truest development ana growth in high ideals of living, have 1 been attained by those people. whose lives have been properly adjusted 10 the infinite. I mean properly ad- iusted; not like the hypocritlcal | literalist or conceitcd bigot
 | My present interest in this ais cussion is aroused by the fact that i someone has initiated a divorce measure for the consideration of the voters at the coming election, that l is nernicious and should be defeated l I am looking at the question from l the Christian viewpoint ana do not mean to ;mpUgn the motives of the l instigator of the measure. The pro- posed hill contains little that differs l from the present law, adding put | three new grounds for divorce, put it substitutes six months residence in the state instead of one year, as being necessary before applying for di yorce.
 Causes are suggested for divorce, both in the new and in the old law, which should be impediments to en- tering the martial state and not means of dissolving it. Divorce laws are the result of bad marriage laws and part of the grounds allowed and suggested placed before and not after | marriage.
 ''The measure plans to add to the
  zona nd maintain our reputation es- abolished Tn. the nineties, when Ari- zona was next to New Mexico in showing the most rapid increase in divorce rate in the United States.
 Figures mean little, however, unless we can see them close to home.
 So from the office of the clerk of the court of Maricopa county We learn the following facts. During the
 fn | August 31, 1916, there were IFS dl- vorce suits filed in Maricopa county. This was better than twenty-four per cent of all civil suits filed in the su
 perior court of the country during that period In other words. almost one fourth of the cases filed in the superior cour. were for the dissolu- ton of the marriage bonds. The fol- lowing grounds were given as reason for the suits: desertion 59, cruelty A, failure to provide support 54, Iadultry B, eonvisted of crime ?, and former marriage 1.
 50 we learn that 167 of the suits were for grounds susceptible of the
 broadest construction, while but s
 would come under the permissive will of the Savior Under wise mar riage laws, there is little doubt but
 that 9 large number of these 161
 cases could have been avoided.
 After showing the fact that divorce
 is an effect rather than a cause of
 an evil and suggesting certain defin-
 ite remedies. and also showing that
 instead of reducing the time of resi-
 denc" from twelve to six months, Il should he increa sed to two years foi the good Of society, the speaker clos
 ed with a strong appeal in behalf ol
 the homes of Arizona and our young : people whC are to be the future home makers, pleading that the peo- pie raise the standard of living anf the conceptions of marriage and dc ; not lower them. Let us surround them with the best and cleanest en- : vironment, an atmosphere that look, r upon marriage as a blessed state ap : proved of God. with homes as tht 3 naver of refuge from every storm O . life and the place where one can file. from temptation and demoralizint r influences. That from our home! e there may radiate an influence tha 9 will speak for that which is nobles a and best and strongest in young man e hood and womanhood."
 : "On behalf of our boys and birls, ] appeal to you voters to lend you }. every effort to defeat this measure a !, the coming election"