PROBABLY no social evil exists to-day more disastrous in its effects upon the race than the laxity pertaining to marriage and the marriage vow. This modern social plague is without doubt in great part responsible for the present existing physical and moral degeneracy which is becoming so apparent in our most highly civilized countries. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage is the order of the day. This successive polygamy sanctioned by law is threatening not only the future existence of the home and family life, but of national life itself.
Marriage, by nearly all, both highly educated and illiterate, is regarded as a mere custom, convenience, or romance. In the selection of a partner, the question is not asked, Will this union increase our future usefulness? The only question considered is, Do we love? Principle and good sense are sacrificed upon the altar of what is termed love. That which prompts in ill-mated unions may be ignorance, blind impulse, or sentimentalism; it certainly is not true love. Perhaps the chief reason why divorces are common is that the true object and binding nature of marriage is not generally understood.
Divorce was common among the Jewish race anciently. The same laxity existed at the time of Christ that exists to-day. To the question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" Jesus answered, "Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." To this the Pharisees replied, "Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so."
By those who contemplate marriage, the question should be asked, What motive have we in forming this union? Will this marriage make us more useful or will it increase the anxieties of either or both of us, thus crippling our future usefulness? Principle should govern in taking such a step in place of blind impulse. Many of the unions that are formed have not the approval of God's word, because they do not place men and women in a position better to glorify God. The modern lax and sentimental idea of marriage, and its results, is fully demonstrated in the life of Samson. The record tells us "Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman." "He came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, . . . Now therefore get her for me to wife." His parents tried to have him see that God's blessing could not attend such a union, but he urged, "Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well," and against his parents' wishes, "he went down, and talked with the woman; . . . and after a time he returned to take her."
What a sad history is recorded of the future of this man who was "moved by the Spirit of the Lord at times!" The union was followed by a separation and "Samson's wife was given to his companion." "It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman . . . whose name was Delilah." The same lack of principle was responsible for this second union. Thru this second union Samson was shorn of his favor with God, and when his enemies came upon him, this once mighty man found himself powerless, and a plaything in their hands. "He awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him."
Love is of God; but that which Samson termed love was merely a delusive infatuation which had its origin with Satan and which he employed to cause the destruction of what might have been a prolonged life of usefulness. How many a useful life has been marred, or cut short, simply because men and women have followed impulse, inclination! If the first union proves a failure, a divorce is usually sought in order to be able to unite with some one that the imagination pictures as more desirable, but as a rule it results in disappointment and a repetition of Samson's experience. This weak link has proved the ruin of many an otherwise strong character that would have proved a blessing to humanity.
These lax ideas concerning marriage are not confined to the world, they have gained a foothold in the church of Christ, which constitutes this one of the signs of the last days. "As it was in the days of Noah," "so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Before the Flood no restraint was felt by men and women. Inclination was followed by the "sons of God," supposing it to be the voice of God. "The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."
What steps should be taken to minimize this evil? The world is flooded with a class of literature which tends to create and feed sentimental feelings. This literature is freely read by old and young. Educational efforts should be put forth to discourage and suppress these so-called love stories, many of which appear innocent and claim to have a good moral to them. Unconsciously men and women are changed by what they read. All that is needed in after life, are suitable conditions to reproduce or make manifest in the life that which the mind has been allowed to dwell upon.
It should be understood and impressed upon all—first, that principle, not inclination or sentimental feelings, should control in entering into the contract of marriage; and, secondly, that the union formed is a union for life and not one that may be dissolved at will for any slight inconvenience, or in case perfect agreement does not exist between the united parties. Those who enter into such a union must be prepared to respect the rights of each other and to sacrifice many of their whims and ideas in order to maintain a spirit of unity.
Education along these lines must be carried forward in the highways and hedges, among the rich and the poor, in the church, the home, and the school. Aside from this, laws should be enacted which will make it more difficult to obtain divorces. If these measures are carried out, men and women will be forced to at least think soberly before uniting in holy wedlock, and divorces will become much less common.
The great secret of unity is to be united with Christ. It is impossible for man and wife to be at one with God without being at one with each other, and the chances are if the one is at one with God the other soon will be, and unity will be the result.