Evening journal., 1922-01-30
SEES DANGER IN
EASY. DIVORCE
Gambling, Some Motion
Pictures Also Pointed Out
as National Menace
DIR. CHASE SAYS
PRESS is SAFE

Divorce. gambling and crime-in-
citing motion pictures are three o
the greatest menaces to the national
integrity. the Rev. william sheafe
Chase. OF Brooklyn. y. Y, declared In
a sermon delivered in St. Andrew
p. +. Church last night. DR.. Chase,
Is chairman OF the board OF direc-
tors OF the International Reform
Bureau; president OF the New York
Civic League. and chairman OF th'
Social Service Committee. OF the
Episcopalian Diocese OF Long Island.
The last time Dr. Chase spoke in ST.
Andrews Church was in 1898. Dur
ing his stay this time he met many
old friends. He addressed the con-
gregation OF st. Johns Episcopal
Church yesterday morning.
In his sermon at st. Andrews DR..
Chase took as his text, For this the
Son Of God Manifested that He might
destroy the work OF the Devil". He
FIRST called attention TO the Walsh
anti-gambllng bill. which aims to
check gambling in this country.
As much as two billion dollars a
OF gamblers DR.. Chase said. This
bill would bar from the mails gam
bling tips and advice and the bill
in force hundreds OF bookmakers
now depending on advice from tip
sheets" and certain newspapers to
establish proof 20 their clients. would
have TO go out OF business.
Replying TO the assertion that the
rights OF the press we're az stake.
DR.. Chase said that the law making
non-mailable. newspapers containing
fraudulent advertising or obscene
matter was considered a good law.
and furthermore the newspapers. in
all cases had the right OF appeal
through injunctions The freedom
OF the press is threatened mostly
by those great financial temptations
provided by certain organized com
mercial enterprises engaged in ex-
plotting the public, the doctor
thought.
In discussing divorces the doctor
said: The United States has more
divorces than all other Christian ma
tions combined. Japan used TO have
more divorces than the United
States. but since the passage OF theii
national uniform divorce and mar.
riage law. their rate has fallen be.
low ours. The divorce rate In thi'
country increased nearly 100 pei
cent between 1890 ad 1915. while
the marriage rate increased only II
per cent. The divorce rate Is in
creasing three and one-half times a.
fast as the population. II the same
proportion continues 10 the end o
thsi century. nearly three-fourths o
all marriages win terminate in di
vorce."
He said that the attention OF pa
tr1ots interested in the safety OF tina
, most vital OF our institution, 9TH
: American Home. ought now to b
directed toward arresting the foil
OF as different kinds OF marriage
and divorce In as different statel
: Dr. Chase said Senator Wesley l.
: Jones. OF Washington, has provided
the first step In a joint resolu ton
now pending before Congress. pro
= viding the way for a National Uni
form Divorce Law.
The present lack Of uniformity. n
said, allows unscrupulous iaweysr q
organize Systematic and persisten
5 attacks for financial gain upon IN
domestic life OF the whole people
, whereby adultery rs legalized. limo
cent children are made orphans an
defenseless, and innocent spouse
= are irreparably injured. A uniform
I marriage and divorce law woul
I doubtless include at least two weeks
, notice OF marriage. between the II
3 cense application and the ceremony
some provision with regard TO IN
e health OF the contracting parties; an
= possibly some evidence that the per
,. ms to be married have been proper
Z ly instructed concerning the pun
}. poses, obligations and sacredness q
n marriage. Surely. he said the natio
should az least rise to the level q
Japan by providing uniform stand
ards tending to decrease divorce.
e Turning TO the question Of san
d motion pictures, DR.. Chase sal
II that not only was the purity OF on
n national ideals threatened by un
- scrupulQus producers, but also fre
n government for the people. since IN
d ed in their own trade-journals. "hav
Is entered politics., the screens tr,
" mendous power being pledged I
Is those candidates who agree 20 guar
l. the interests Of this one selfish in
dustry regardless OF the public we
II fare. Furthermore. as charged b
Il the Federal Trade Commission. IN
n motion picture trade is In the strang
"A grasp OF a few men alleged to b
~ violating the fair trade laws m
doctor declared. He called after
tion TO the Senator Myers resolution
now pending before Congress. n
h. quiring Federal investigation {
,r the motion picture industry. Stain
n that either the alleged political az
In tivties. the alleged anti-fair trad
,s policies or the questionable mori
l. tendencies provided sufficient ground
IS for such an investigation, for N
m purpose OF providing the people wi,
Il the facts and preparing the way Z,
the remedies,
r STORM KEEPS CHIEF HOME.