Evening star., 1933-01-12
ATTRACTION HEADS
MARRIAGE FACTORS
Six Tests of Successful Union
Are Outlined at Confer.
ence Here.

Outlining his six Tests of Success
ful Marriage" before the closing meet
ing ct Calvary Baptist Church last
nigns of the Conference on Conserva-
ton of the Home, DR.. Leland Foster
Wood. secretary of the Committee on
Marriage and the Home Of the Federal
Council of Churches, placed the sue
ce5s of continued attraction" at the
top Of his list.
Other factors, or tests, he pointed out
arc the test of harmonious living to-
geth7r, domestic planning, developing
love life so that courtship does not end
with marriage, giving well-trained chill
dren to society and the test of religion.
Discussing the test of giving we'll
traircd children to society, he said:
''Thc degenerate family with numerous
progeny is laying up trouble for society
in Gays to come and the family, un
necessarily niggardly in its contribution
of children for building up of high
type of citizenship, is failing in an
important social duty"
Stand on Birth Control.
Earlier in the day, in answer to a
question, DR.. Wood had defined his
stand on birth control, when he said:
SHOULD we discourage or condemn birth
control we will precipitate greater mar
ital problems than those we might al
leviate''
Dr.. Wood listed the Roots of Di-
vorce and Family Unhappiness" as mis-
understanding and ignorance, prudish-
ness which hampers frank discussion,
failure to make adjustments in the most
intimate relationships of marriage,
overemphasis on pleasure philosophy,
misunderstanding of love, overdepend-
encc on the marriage certificate, finan-
cial and practical difficulties. liquor and
drugs. childlessness, lack of that sort
of religion which makes people con-
aiderate and all other resulting i'll ad-
justments.
Prof. E. r. Groves, conductor of a
course IN marriage at the University OF
North Carolina, stressed the need for
education in all aspects of marriage and
said the greatest hazards to successful
marriage are: Marriage of the physical
~ unfit, nistmating, accidents or other
unforeseen misfortuneS after marriage
and danger of an anticlimax after mar
rage.
Other Speakers.
Other speakers on last nights pro-
gram, open to the public following the
conference of ministers and church
women lasting through the day, were
Joy Elmer Morgan, editor of the Ma
fional Education Association journal,
whose topic was Radio and the Home"
and Miss Katherine Lenroot of the
United States Children's Bureau, who
spoke on Changing Problems of the
Home and Child" Prof. D. w. Willard
of George Washington University pre-
sided at the meeting
The conference was under auspices
of the Social Service Committee of the
Washington Federation of Churches,
with, the cooperation of the Parent
Teacher Association, Council of Social
Agencies, Social Hygiene Society, Min
jsterial Union, District Sunday School
Association, American Association of
University Women, Adult Bible Glass
Association, Federation of Womens
Clubs, Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion and Young Women's Christian
Association The conference chairman
was Rev. Harvey Baker Smith, chair
man of the Social Service Committee,
ans Prof. Willard was program chair
maa.
I'm Is years of performing marriage
ceremonies I have never wed q couple
without first having had at least an
hours talk with both members" Rev
Ze Barney T. Phillips, rector of Epiph-
any Episcopal Church, told the con-
ference. mo minister he continued
has the right to marry couple when
he hasn't had a confidential conference
with. them" DR.. Phillips topic was
Pre-Maritai Interviews" He discussed
the various topics and problems he
invariably talked over with the prospec-
tive man and wife, as well as the ad-
vice he gave both with view to making
the marriage more successful.
Follow Up of Marriage"
Taking up where DR.. Phillips left
of, DR.. Harvey Baker Smith, pastor
of Columbia Heights Christian Church.
spoke of the Follow Up of Marriage"
discussing the problems which arise
after the nuptials, and the part to be
played by the minister as a confidant
and friend.
Ray H. Everett, executive secretary
OF the District Social Hygiene Society.
spoke on the necessity for full and
complete knowledge of the many pos
sible problems which might arise from
marital relations and recommended a
number of "Guidebooks for the Teach
er and Minister on Marriage"
DR.. William A. White, Superintendent
OF st. Elizabeth's Hospital presided
at luncheon meeting yesterday after
noon, speaking on the topic Personal
1ty Adjustments in Marriage" Prof.
Grove and DR.. Wood also spoke at the
luncheon, the former discussing Mar
riage, the Great Adventure" and the
latter, Getting at the Roots of Di-
vorce and Family Unhappiness."
DR.. Harvey Baker Smith closed the
meeting with a summary and final
appeal TO the ministers and others in
attendance to continue their work of