Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-18
EPISCOPAL BOARD PLANNING
MARRIAGE TRAINING SCHOOL
TO COMBAT DIVORCE FLOOD

me introduction Of religious and
scientific instruction for marriage
into the regular program Of every
parish is proposed by the Depart
ment Of Christian Social Service Of
che Protestant Episcopal church
The instrcution Is intended definite
ly TO prepare young people for the
responsibilities Of family life.
Through this instruction the church
will begin q new attack On the long
rising tide Of divorces.
A series Of Family Relations In
stitutes" in different dioceses will be
announced early this fall by the
Rev. DR.. Charles N. Lathrop, execu-
tive secretary Of the department Of
Christian social work. At these in
otituteS the clergy will be given a
training course in the conduct of
marriage preparatory classes. The
institute faculties will be composed
Of authorities In mental hygiene, IN
spiritual living, in sex relationships
and In household economics. Two
such demonstration institutes were
held last year in Los Angeles and in
Cincinnati.
28,500 Marriages Annually
The number Of marriages solemn
ICED annually in the Protestant
Episcopal church is 1880, an aver
age Of five for each Of the 5,575
clergymen in charge of parishes and
organized missions. The marriage
preparatory classes, however, will
not be especially for couples who
have announced their engagements,
but will be for young people Of mar
riageable age generally in order
that the obligations and the ideals
Of the marital relation may be thor
oughly understood before matrimonJ
Il contemplated.
In undertaking to develop q pro
gram OF education preparatory for
marriage, the Christian social SER
vice department Is carrying out a
recommendation reported TO the
general convention Of the church
last year by a joint commission Of
the House of Bishops and the House
Of Deputies, appointed ito study the
whole problem Of divorce-its con-
ditions and causes"
To Remedy Domestic Revolution"
The situation which the mar
rage preparatory classes r ex-
pected TO help remedy is termed q
domestic revolution" Like the Sin
dustrial revolution" the domestic
revolution" unless 1t Is speedily
guided into sound channels, the
Rev. Lathrop holds, will bring upCn
society at large profound and diSas-
trous disturbances.
Many specific causes for divorce
were named in the report Of the
commission on the whole problem
Of divorce. Among those mentioned
were apartments and city life.
childless families, sex tension" be-
tween husband and wife, financial
difficulties. hasty marriages and
lack Of uniform divorce laws. Blu.
broadly viewed 1t was found that
increase in the divorce rate was
characteristic Of the times, in Eu-
rope as well as in America, in Ro-
man Catholic as well as in Protes-
tant countries.
In the last analysis. as It Is set
forth In the various reports Of the
church and in the program for
marriage preparatory classes, the
divorce problem arises from a con-
flict between a Christian and a pa
gan conception Of marriage. In the
Christian view marriage presents a
life goal to be achieved through
s~elf-surrender and service. through
sacrifice and suffering and through
love. The pagan finds in marriage
o means for disqualification.
In discussing what should be
taught by the church about mar
rage, the Rev. d.. Lathrop states.
"A marriage which Is worth any
thing at all is more than a mere
biological arrangement between a
male and a female. 1t has a deep
spiritual element, very much akin
TO the spiritual love of God for a
II Is IN the love Of the home that
the child learns what the love of
God means; it is this atmosphere
that teaches the child what a low
ing, heavenly Father IS"