The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-10-06

FORMER LAKELAND MINISTER

the source Of national strength and
greatness. Dwelling upon this source
Robert Burns, in his famous poem,
the "Cotter's Saturday Night"
reached the highest altitude ever
touched by poetical benius-"From
scenes like these, Old Scotia's gran
deur," etc.
The Law of Matrimony
Into the marriage relation enters all
that is most sacred in the binding
power Of religion. 1t should receive
all the religious seriousness in our
approach to the "holy Of holies" In.
to this relation enters also all that is
most sacred in the binding power of
the state. 1t has the distinction Of
being the only institution of religion
supported and regulated by the state.
Marriage and the Nation
There is practical agreement be-
tween the civil and ecclesiastical
view of matrimony. Both alike rec
ognize the intimate relation between
matrimonial integrity and public vir-
tue. AS system, Christianity is in.
tolerant toward polygamy. The state
is in agreement with this intolerance.
Any religious cult or new thought
that has any leaning towards free
lovism or looseness in the marriage
VOWS, misrepresents Christianity. The
pleasing and special attention Charlie
teristic of courtship and the honey.
moon should remain as constan. as
the laws Of gravitation.
Divorces
Without discussion as to the rights
or wrongs of divorce for given
causes, it will be conceded that d.
vorce are always attended with hurt
full results In the New Testament
only one sufficient cause for divorce
is given. The sinner in the cause is
denied the right of remarriage. Un-
der the Old Testament there were
exceptions-because of the half-civi.
lized condition Of the people. The
purpose of the state is to prevent d.
vorce. There may be circumstances
under which it is better to have
dissolution. To meet these unfOrtu.
nate conditions the state of Florida
permits divorces upon either one Of
nine causes Perhaps in the interest
of society some of these should be
repealed. Every reasonable bar
should be raised against the increase
of this evil-the malignant foe of so
cietyt and the outstanding disgrace
that faunts it's hideous face before
the disgust of this intelligent age.
This disgrace should not apply to the
party who may be the innocent vic!
tim in the case. The voice of patriot
ism should cry aloud, and spare not
against the invasion Of every foe to
the marriage relation that threatens
the disruption of home ties. The en-.
emy of the home is more heartless
and more to be dreaded than the
army of invasion against helpless
Belgium! ALI other calamities are
as nothing compared with the de-
structon, Of the home where once
dwelt domestic peace and happiness.
The home-destroyer is the greatest
of williams; the libertine is the most
diabolical of all sinners. There is
no hell within the reaches of eternity
sufficiently hot to mete out punish.
ment due the human demons, wheth.
er male or female, who, with vile
hands and murderous hearts, make
desolate that holy place which God
intended as an earthly Eden, Of all
that is most lovely and beautiful.
The Supreme Tragedy
1t is the breaking up Of the home
nest. The most cherished pages in
Life's Book contain the family rec
ord. In our meditations we like to be
at home again, part Of the circle as
of yore. The most cherished pictures
are the faces of our loved ones upon
the walls; who, while on earth were
our best and most trusted friends,
but who now are in heaven. If the
breaking of the home-nest is in honor
its natural sadness may be tempered
with joy; if in dishonor, it is an in