One of the first US laws to legitimize divorce took place in 1787 when a prominent gentleman named Isaac Governeur petitioned the New York Legislature for a divorce from his wife who had been unfaithful. The petition was referred to a committee chaired by Alexander Hamilton (yes, that Alexander Hamilton). The committee decided that divorces could be granted by the courts of new colony only on the grounds of adultery. Ironically, Governeur’s divorce attorney that successfully represented him in that divorce lawsuit was Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton’s legislation remained in effect in the State of New York until the 1966 New York Divorce Reform Law. Until that time, the only way to secure a divorce was on grounds of adultery. What if you wanted a divorce and your spouse would nor cooperate and commit adultery. You could hire someone who would claim to be the other woman (or man, I suppose) for the purposes of divorce. One 20-year-old mother of three named Sarah Ellis was named as the “other woman” in 35 divorce cases in 18 months. She was paid $10 per divorce for her services.
There is an old saying, “You can’t legislate morality.” Of course, that is exactly what we legislate! The things that are illegal are so because they are wrong. But then illegal actions that come to be accepted will eventually cease to be illegal. Over time, the grounds for divorce were expanded to include things other than adultery. And now in most states today, adultery is not even permitted as a legal grounds of divorce. My how times change?
Want to make a strong statement about family values and the sanctity of marriage? Make your marriage work. Granted, that kind of statement takes time; my own family values statement has taken 30 years up to this point. But it is gaining credibility, I think. It is rather ironic that so often the political candidate that supposedly supports family values is the one who has himself been divorced. Not a very stable family values platform.
Hamilton’s legislation remained in effect in the State of New York until the 1966 New York Divorce Reform Law. Until that time, the only way to secure a divorce was on grounds of adultery. What if you wanted a divorce and your spouse would nor cooperate and commit adultery. You could hire someone who would claim to be the other woman (or man, I suppose) for the purposes of divorce. One 20-year-old mother of three named Sarah Ellis was named as the “other woman” in 35 divorce cases in 18 months. She was paid $10 per divorce for her services.
There is an old saying, “You can’t legislate morality.” Of course, that is exactly what we legislate! The things that are illegal are so because they are wrong. But then illegal actions that come to be accepted will eventually cease to be illegal. Over time, the grounds for divorce were expanded to include things other than adultery. And now in most states today, adultery is not even permitted as a legal grounds of divorce. My how times change?
Want to make a strong statement about family values and the sanctity of marriage? Make your marriage work. Granted, that kind of statement takes time; my own family values statement has taken 30 years up to this point. But it is gaining credibility, I think. It is rather ironic that so often the political candidate that supposedly supports family values is the one who has himself been divorced. Not a very stable family values platform.
2 comments:
What does the Holy Bible say about marriage? It is not to be entered into lightly. Be sober minded when considering your partner and other half; after all it is a lifetime commitment. A wise man told me, “It is the second most important decision you will ever make.”, Thanks! Tuck.
Marriage was and is intended to be a holy union. It is one of God’s institutions, before the institution of the church was fully established by the author of life marriage and the goodness and need for the union of a man and a woman is spoken of in the book of Geneses.
Divorce; It calls into question the sound judgment of any man or woman who seeks one. After making that commitment for life only to decide at a later date you have made a terrible mistake and are not happy with the one you chose for life.
The time to think about the possibility of divorce is before you make that commitment to marry, ask yourself.
Will this last after the children are grown, after the vigor of youth is gone, what about as the eyes grow dim and are we are old and gray and near the grave? What then will be the ties that bind a couple together as one. . . only love could do that.
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