The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-15
TOO MANY FORGE PARSONS ORDERS
Divorces Increase At Alarm ing Rate, Says President
 Coolidge's Pastor
By THOMAS l.. STOKES neased Wire To The Age-Herald.)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-Too many people who stand up before the preacher nowadays say they 'love, honor and obey" and then forget about it.
 That's why divorce has increased so alarmingly in the last year, in the opinion of President CooHdge's pastor, Dr. Jason Noble Pierce. of the First Congregation church. Records of the census bureau here show that the divorce rate was 136 per 100000 population last year compared with 112 in 1916, S4 in 1906, 73 in 1900 and only 33 in 1890.
 some people stand before the altar and pronounce these most solemn vows without a sincere determina- tion to play the mans part and the woman's part and stick by them," Dr. Pierce said.
 Along with our upward progress there is an undesirable weakening of the sense of the importance and the value of fulfilling contracts. That includes marriage contract. People are failing to complete their marriage vows, the most solemn contract of all, by breaking their marriage ties" Not At All Pessimistic.
 Despite the records, however, pr. Pierce is not at all pessimistic over the outlook. He predicts return to normalcy in marriage, along with other things, when an adjustment comes from the sudden rush into the complex life of today, whose many confusions have affected marriage and home life.
 q have faith in folks" he said em- phatically, expressing the philosophy of his long and intimate contact with people in every walk of life. And I am not at all sure that the records mean that there is less happiness in marriage now, They possibly reflect of the complex life of the present with it's economic disturbances, it's many attractions and distractions, it's hurry and rush, it's general conges- tion.'
 Among the causes contributing to divorce, all of which arc bound up in the confusion of the modern epoch, he cited:
 l. Economic independence of women.
 g. Increase of nasty marriages.
 3. Decrease in number of early mar riages.
 Unable To support Two.
 Many cases like this have come to my attention" Dr. Pierce said. The man is unable to make enough for two. His wife then gets a po- sition, and earns enough to support herselk The husband then finds a position in another town, but the wifei who is satisfied and making her way, refuses to accompany him. A divorce follows. It may not mean always that there is any unhappiness, just economic necessity, perhaps. But all that goes into the records"
 Dr. Pierce believes there has come an increase of hasty marriages with the present rapid methods of travel from place to place, and the disap- pearance of the isolation of other days.
 T am very much opposed to hasty marriages, and think every precaution should be taken against them" he said, adding. and yet I believe very strongly in love at first sight,"
 Economic troubles have been a de- ciding force in recent years he said, against early marriages, in which he believes very strongly.
 There must be measures taken against nasty marriages. Dr. Pierce said. Laws have accomplished much, though not everything. Then. peo- pie must live up to their vows, be more unselfish in their love Chil- dren. he said. are great force in cutting down the number of di- vorceS.