DIVORCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9598, 24 August 1894, Page 3

DIVORCE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, Orally, and by pastoral letter, the Primate of the Anglican Church has declared to his people what is the Law Christian on the question of Divorce. The composite nature of that branch of the Catholic Church in thi3 Diocese, as regards both clergy and laity, may possibly tend to prevent the declaration from being generally effective. But to every honest churchman his course is clear. He will refuse, absolutely, and without hesstation, to allow the Law Christian to be subordinate to any mere Act of Parliament. Suppose, however, that this happens. Suppose Ccesar flaunts the Voice of The People in the face of God. Then though amongst us there be some whose greed for reputation as possessors of " broad and liberal views" may prompt them to side with Cssar, yet honest churchmen will emphasise their non possumus by declining to hold social intercourse with those who imagine that they can commit adultery by leave of Parliament. In the face of their Bishop's letter, surely it is not seemly for churchmen to argue the position in the public press. Let that be left to others. For us, "The noblest answer unto such Is perfect stillness when thoy brawl." —I am, etc, Benedict.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Perhaps you could find room for the following extract from a well-known writer. —I am, etc., Delta. * " The sacredness of home (among the Romans) was expressed strongly by the idea of two guardian deities (Lares and Penates), who watched over it. A Roman's own fireside and hearthstone were almost the most sacred spots on earth. There was no battlecry that came so to his heart as that ' For the altar and the hearth.' How firmly this was rooted in the nation's heart is plain from the tradition that for 170 years no separation took place by law between those who had once been united in wedlock. It was to this that Rome owed her greatness. The whole fabric of the commonwealth rose out of the family. The family was the nucleus around which all the rest agglomerated ; and moral decay in the family is the invariable prelude to public corruption. Whoever studies history will be profoundly convinced that a nation stands or falls with the sanctity of its domestic ties. Rome mixed with Greece, and learnt her morals. The Goth was at her gates ; but she fell not till she was corrupted and tainted at the heart. The domestic corruption preceded the political. When there was no longer purity on her hearthstones nor integrity in her Senate, then, and not till then, her death knell was rung."