PARSON'S PLAIN TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 182, 19 December 1912, Page 5

PARSON'S PLAIN TALK.

FREE LOVE " AND DIVORCE. STIRRING CONDEMNATION. Wanganui, December l(i. The Rev. J. D. McKenzie had some straight things to say on present-day morality, or, rather, immorality, at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church last night. Basing his remarks on the text, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," he contended that it was time, in the interests of the young people, that this very important command was more deeply impressed on all. In the course of a stirring address lie characterised some of the animated pictures which depicted one man running off with another man's wife—and created an entirely wrong impression on the minds of the young—as "devilish." He referred to the "white slave" trallic at Home, and he alleged that it was known ir. this Dominion—he said the congregation knew what he meant.

The preacher d'eprecated young people marrying for home or position, and believed that many unhappy marriages were the outcome of this act. "Free love" was strongly denounced, and the preacher dwelt at some length on the question of divorce, maintaining that, except for fornication, the marriage bond should not bo dissolved, and unless that were the real reason for divorce those concerned in it and marrying again were guilty of the grievous sin of adultery. ,