The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-06
RENO BRANDED
ROTTEN ROME
BY MINISTER
Divorce Mill Spread Will
Ruin Nation, Declares
Noted Pastor.
OTHERS DEFEND LAW
HumaniSt Society Head
Puts Unqualified Approval
on System.
BY H ALLEN SMITH
United Press stan Correspondent
lConrrirht- 1871 by ITnIted prAssl

NEW YORK. May 6.-Dr. Chris
tan F. Reisner, noted Methodist
pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle.
today characterized Reno's high
geared-diyorce mill, where marriage
ties are being broken at the rate OF
one every five. minutes, as alone
consistent with the goddess Soviets."
DR.. Reisner and Michael Williams.
editor Of the Commonweal, leading
lay Catholic publication, in brand
ing the Reno spectacle, used terms
like vulgar" "a disgrace to the ma
ton" and 'drearily comic"
The Methodist minister expressed
the belief that, if the Reno system
is permitted to take further root in
the United States, it will result in
the ultimate destruction of the ma
ton. He saw in Reno a rebirth of
Rome. in the voluptuous days before
her fall.
Views in Conflict
These opinions of the Reno stu
alton were given the United Press
in the course Of a survey which,
though showing sentiment against
the Nevada divorce system, never
theless registered a sharp difference
of views.
One clergyman, DR.. Charles
Francis Potter, founder and head
of the first Humanist Society, ex-
pressed unequivocal approval of the
Reno courts, while DR.. Eliot White,
Episcopal clergyman, announced
himself as definitely in favor of
more flexible divorce laws than OBJ
tain in most states.
Reno. is disgracing all America"
DR.. Reisner said. Reno is cheap
ening marriage by short order di-
vorces and undermining the home,
which is the heart of the nation.
Reno alone is consistent with the
Goddess Soviets; it is wholly foret~'l
to a Christian nation. It entnrones
the flesh and denies the power of
The spiritual, without which real
love never exists.
Points to Rome
at eXalts convenience over and
against duty. It approximates
making marriage legalized prostitu-
ton. If it becomes general, it will
spell national destruction as it did
in Rome.
Religion should not degrade It
self by cooperating in the marriage
Of such hastily divorced people.
Such a divorce mill may be con-
doned in Mexico, but it should
arouse the angered indignation Of
every decent American"
DR.. Potter, however. viewed the
matter differently.
Il find it difficult" he said, ito
conjure up any righteous excitement
about the fact that it is possible to
get a divorce in Reno in ten min
utes. The average marriage cere-
mony takes less time than that.
Cling to Old Morality
"A justice Of the peace "a rather
inappropriate name, by the wayD
can perform four marriages in ten
minutes. You have to reside in
Reno six weeks before you can get a
divorce, but you can get married
IN almost any city within a half
hour after arrival.
This Reno situation shows that
women still are SO moral that when
then can not stand one man anv
longer and wish to try another
they still conform to the morality
which says that they should be
legally divorced from No. l before
they marry No. 2, and No. is
usually so happy to let her 90 that
he does not contest the case"