THE MARRIAGE RELATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3632, 19 November 1920, Page 5

THE MARRIAGE RELATION.

GROWING DISREGARD OF CHRISTIAN VIEW. OMINOUS SION OF THE TIMES. PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY ALARMED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. * At the Presbyterian General Assembly, Rev. D. D. Scott moved the following recommendation: ‘‘That an effort be made throughout the whole church to proclaim the Christian view of marriage, and that the third Sunday in March be a day for that! purpose. ’ ’ The mover pointed to the very great number of divorces that had deed granted throughout the country, and added that unless he was mistaken the majority of these had been in connection with the worst offence against the marriage relations. He quoted an eminent authority's word that “divorce is not the cause of the decadence of a-nation; it is plsymptom of that decadence." Rev Scott said that some good would be accomplished if the church were to lave *'a big drive” on one particular Sunday with a view of setting forth the Christian view of marriage. Rev. I. Jolly said that the way in

U r:i» which marriage was coming to be regarded by many people was|one of the ominous signs of the times. Gone had only to recall the history of the Roman Empire to appreciate the significance of the Rev. Scott’s quotation. It was patent to all that the community was drifting away from the Chirstian doctrines of marriage, the preservation of which was essential for the wellbeing of the nation, not merely the church. The recommendation, was carried, along with another recommendation as follows: “That the Assembly set up a committee to consider the relations of the church to the divorce laws, and that the committee suggest instructions for the guidance of ministers and others, and report to the next Assembly.”