The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-06-01
MOVIES And LAX
LAWS CAUSE DIVORCE
THIS is CHARGED IN REPORT
MADE TO THE SOUTHERN
BAPTIST CONVENTION.

WASHINGTON.-Moving pictures,
lax laws and intemperance are blam-
ed for the numerous divorces in the
United States by the committee of
temperance and social service in its
report to the southern Baptist con-
vention. Enactment Of a uniform
code of marriage and divorce laws
was recommended as a remedy.
Quoting from government Stats
tics on the number Of divorces OBJ
tanned annually in the country the
report shows that in 1916, when the
exact figures were gathered, there
were 1905 divorces.
Were later figures available, the
report continued, "the picture would
doubtless be larger still, certainly
this would be true of 1919 owing to
the large number of hasty and foolish
marriages contracted during the
war"
Marriage Laws.
Laxness of the laws of marriage
and divorce is "unquestiOnably- one
of the most fruitful causes of the
prevalent and growing divorce evil
the report states, emphasizing the
need of better laws regulating mar
riage.
MANY of the marriage and divorce
laws of the states are described as
F'foolishly absurd"
Amendment to the constitution to
give the federal government control
over the mater is suggested, but ow-
ing to the. time this would require
legislative enactment in the several
states is recommended in the mean
time.
The report recommends among
other things the publishing of the
marriage bans for at least thirty
days before the rite can be celebrat-
ed, physical examination of each par
ty by a physician and the establish
ment of a uniform code which near
" as possible SHOULD come to the
basis of Bible teaching concerning
the ground of divorce with the right
of marriage and that in all other
cases when divorces be granted it be
without the right Of remarriage."
Women's Report.
While the Baptist women of the
south were asked for only $15,000,
900 or one-fifth of the total sum
sought in the Baptist seventy-five
million campaign, they responded
with subscriptions of $4,000,
according to the annual report of the
activities of the Women's Missionary
Union made to the southern Baptist
convention by Miss Kathleen Mallory
of Baltiomre, corresponding Secreta-
ry.
During the campaign $500 girls
and young women volunteered to
give their whole time to special
christian service, 300 new mission
airy societies aiming the women and
young people were organized, $780,
900 pages of tracts and other liter
ature were distributed in behalf of
tie campaign and 10000 letters
were sent out and over $4,000 miles.
were travelled in the interest of the
drive by two of the Women's Mis-
sionary Union workers.
A total of 5000 new organiza-
tions were formed by Baptist wo-
men during the last year and over
3,400 mission study classes were con-
Quoted.
Sunday School.
Receipts of the Baptist Sunday
school board for the last year were
$86O,OOO, according to the twenty
ninth annual report of the board
made by DR.. l. J. Van Ness, secre-
tary to the southern Baptist con-
vention in session here. The total
represents an advance of $4,000
over previous years. Out of its bus
mess profits the board expended ap-
provimately $4,000 for benevo-
lent ond field work not connected
with it's business The net assets of
the board were shown as 100000.
In addition to its own business the
Sunday school board financed the
Baptist S75,0OO,OOO campaign to the
extent of 100000, but the sum was
refunded by the various state organ
izations.