Evening star., 1928-11-04
EPISCOPAL CHURCH SEES
DIVORCE AS MAJOR EVIL
Attempts Far-Reaching Study of Problem
as Separations Increase Through
out the World.

| field of newer psychological theories
which explain much of human be-
havior
The comr.,sion is satisfied much can
be done in the field of education to do
away with prudery and mistaken ideals
of life. Yet there Is something beyond
without curing which probably little
can be done to lower the divorce rate.
It is expressed thus in the report OF
the commission:
This brings us face to face With the
fact that what is basic in the problem
of divorce. as in every other "robsem
of human relationships. is the thing
that we call character. The word
char acter implies certain stan Hards OF
right and wrong and the ability on the
part Of the individual to act in accord
ance with those standards. Much has
been said about financial tension, but
in most cases the problem Is doubtless
not so much one of finances as of abil-
ity to face the ordinary conditions of
life, nearly all of which involve the ex-
penditure of money. Drunkenness,
cruelty and sex immortality are prob
lens of character. Many marriages are
unhappy for the reason that husbands
and wives in tn ir relations with one
another frequently do not obey the laws
that are basic in every normal human
relationship. In many homes there is
a freedom of speech. spirit of criti-
ci / and a failure to observe the amen
iti"s of life that are recognized as es-
sential in any ordinary friendship: and
surely one cannot hope for a happy
married life on terms ~ are lower
than those of friendship. Willfulness,
the insistence on ones own way, the
fn{ - rttA eli far
the vi hes and preferences of each
other are constant causes of unhappi-
ness. One must always have profound
respect for the individuality of another
person even when that individuality
happens to belong to ones husband or
wife. Moreover. every wise human re-
lationship involves the spirit of co-on-
Grafton. which in turn requires sacrifice
and self-denial.
Character may be briefly defined as
E., ability of the individual to adapt
himself to the various conditions and
crises of life as they arise. Clearly it
is impossible in any education to an
ticipate the various problems which
arise in his life, but the right sort of
training should give him the reasonable
ability to face them SO -a-ely. This is
peculiarly the case In marriage. It's
experiences cannot be anticipated but
If men and women have character they
will have the power to adjust them
selves to one another even under most
trying circumstances.
Hard to Change.
CAS- the years go by it becomes in
creasingly difficult to modify the char
acter that has been formed in early
life. While it is not impossible to
change it. the difficulties often seem
insurmounta This is what makes
50 many of the plans for producer : !
happy homes seem positively diculcus
to those who have any real knowledge !
of human nature. To expect that
little hornily or good advice will make |
impure men and women faithful in the |
marital relationship, slovenlv women |
into good hcusekeepers, a willful man |
into considerate husband, or the law
and the shiftless into hard working, |,
frugal people, and quarrelsome men |
and women into affectionate husbands |
and wives, is e9 reasonable as 1t was |
fc" the ancient king to expect that the |
tides of the ocean would retire at his |
command When the ideals, emotions |
and habits are once fixed the effort to |
change them involves desperate |
struggle.
1T is impossible to overemphasize |
the fact that Ideals are absolutely basic |!
in the emotional life and in character |
For this reason careful thinkers look |
for the causes of family disintegration
and divorce in changes in the ideals of
life which have taken place in the last
few centuries. First, there was the
economic revolution which displaced
the family as an economic unit. It is
only within a comparatively short Pc
riod that there has been the great de-
velopment of city life as compared with
rural life. In rural life the family was
the producing unit and every member
of the family was dependent on every
other member. Wherever this condi-
ton has prevailed the rate of divorce
seems to have been comparatively low.
But the modern industrial development
has brought people by the thousands
from the country to the city. Not only
men. but women have become econom-
ically independent of their families,
and no longer look to them for sup
port. AS a consequence the whole ideal
of the family has changed. Moreover.
there has been an increasing emphasis
on the importance of the individual,
which was bound in time to place wom-
en- on an equality with men, politically,
socially and morally Along with the
development of individualsm has also
come the general growth of the ro-
mantle view of life which is character
istic of modern civilization and espe-
cially Of America. This pictures the
ideal life as paradise in which every
one has God-given right to be happy
It's attitude toward marriage is we'll ex-
pressed in the familiar ending of the
stories Of childhood. and they lived
happily ever after From the stand
point of marriage. romanticism implies
not only freedom of choice in marriage.
but also freedom to live ones married
life according to ones own wishes. The
romantic attitude is characterized by
the conviction, especially among wom-
en-, that marriage should be an eternal
honeymoon, with constant demonstra-
tions of affection. Where these are
lacking married life is considered a
failure. The development of individual
ism, or the right of every human being
to live his own life and attain the
greatest self-expression, coupled with
the romantic view of marriage largely
explains the striking tendency In mod
ern life to look on happiness and pleas
ure as the obvious goals of life.
1T is clear, therefore. that the solu-
ton of the problem Of divorce requires
a knowledge of intimate sex relations,
Of the emotional life, of character, and
Of life's ideals. These in turn involve
carly home training and its ideals, later
religious training and religious associa-
tions and such subjects as sex educa-
ton. 1t is easv. therefore. to appre-
ciste the difficulties that inhere in any
real study of the divorce problem"
Marriage Courses" Suggested.
One serious stumbling block in the
way of determining the underlying fac
| tors OF divorce. the commission found,
IS lack OF knowledge of normal family
| life
| There are thousands of couples who
| have made a success Of marriage. They