TRAINING FOR MARRIAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1930, Page 6

TRAINING FOR MARRIAGE

DIVORCE AND THE CHURCH

Dlt H. I). A, MAJOR’S VIEWS. SYDNEY, Sept. 4. Dr H. D. A. Major, Principal of Ripori Hal), previously of Auckland, spoke on the subject of “Christian Marriage in Idea and History” at the Modern Churchmen's Conference, yesterday.

“The Church,” he declared, “must proceed to give much more, attention to sex problems and in a modern, scientific and attractive fashion. It is intensely difficult, and in some degree dangerous, to give such teaching. Much however, can be done by literature and fellowship. The Church ought to institute definite training for marriage. It needs to promote definitely the right kind of marriage and to prevent, if possible, the wrong kind of marriage. It may be said that the Church has tried to do this. No doubt it has. but too often in the wrong way. It has been influenced by taboos too much, and by science too little. Let the Church cease to fulminate against those who are seeking to relieve our present marriage laws of wlmt they regard as their., hardships and inhumanities, and let it instead, by advice, by guidance, by encouragement, by example, by inspiiatiou, seek to create the rational, moral and spiritual conditions in the community out of which happ\ marriages arise. If the English Church had. put the same amount of moral energy into securing eugenic marriages as in opposition to marriage with a deceased wife’s sister, things would lie much better than they are to-day, with a -mounting number of imbeciles and incurables, and the Church would have gained authority, not lost it. “To take Christ’s teaching albout marriage and divorce, winch was meant as an ideal, and insist on its beijig made law, is a gross inconsistency verging non hypocrisy. Christ liberated Christians from the.tyranny of taboos, but they have been slow to claim the privilege of freedom.’ MENDING BROKEN LIVES. Dr Douglas White of Harrow, a member of the Archbishops’ Commission oil sex relations, said lovers were rose-tinted glases, and the colour was apt to fade in tile stress of life. He continued “The result is in many cares unhappy, and in many more cases intolerable marriages. There is also another element, of uncertainty too often disregarded, for real changes take place both in men and women. Long after a man has reached physical maturity .his mind develops, especially where there is. a high degree of culture. His opinions alter, his tastes change. The changes in women are far greater. Hence divorce is necessary, and it is not, forbidden b\ Christ. Unpromising marriages may turn, out almost ideal; promising ones, the reverse. The nanctity of mairiace is best secured by putting an end to marriages that are,a disgrace to the. name. That persons who hate or despise each other should he condemned to live together is immoral; that they should he called married when the' marriage in fact no longer exists is a farce. Divorce ought to be regarded not as a penalty, hut as a relief. Relief should be given for all conditions which make a married life either non-existent or intolerable. Divorce would then become a method, not a breaking up of ,families, bntof mending broken lives.” ,