Marriage Laws by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 19, 1912

Marriage Laws

By Editor

CONSIDERABLE agitation is now going the rounds of the press regarding the question of a uniform divorce law. It is argued that this would tend very greatly to reduce the number of divorces granted on various pretexts in the several States, and so would be an aid in safeguarding the marriage relationship. There surely is need of something being done to check this growing evil. We question, however, if there can be accomplished by legal enactment all that is desired. The work must go deeper than this, and reach farther back. The growing number of divorces is an indication of a growing moral degeneracy, a letting down of the moral restraints of the heart and life. What is needed is an education of men and women, yea, and of our youth also, regarding the sanctity of the marriage relationship.

Marriage is often entered into hastily, as a result of caprice and passion rather than of sober thinking and genuine affection. The result is that when the novelty has passed away, many tire of the relationship, and by any pretext that will serve the purpose, seek to escape from its obligations.

The divorce evil is a sign of the times in which we are living. Our Saviour declares, in Luke 17:26-30, that as it was in the days of Lot and Noah so it shall be in the days of the coming of the Son of man. Moral degeneracy marked these periods of earth's history, and its presence among us to-day is a significant sign of the times in which we are living. By our own faithful regard of the family relationship, by proper education in the church and in the home, and by suitable legislation as well, the character of this union should be impressed upon the minds of the public. By these means some influence may be exerted in holding back the on-sweeping tide threatening the destruction of the home institution.