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THE INTERESTS OF POSTERITY 179
the conditions of the existence of humanity so greatly that
the tale told in the first book of the Bible is actually no
longer true to life. Such words, therefore, cannot be taken
to decide whether it is morally right that women should
suffer in childbirth, since this ideology belongs to the
primitive past and cannot possibly have a bearing on modern
medical science.
In close connection with eugenic marriages is the question
of divorce. Civilised countries have been compelled to
discard the obligation of the consecration of marriage by
religious ceremony, and have introduced in its stead civil
marriages before a registrar, as the essential part of the
compact, a religious ceremony being left to the inclination
and decision of the persons concerned. The reason for this
reform lay in the just appreciation of family life as the
very foundation upon which State and Society depend ; the
interference of the Church into such paramount public
interests could not be any longer tolerated.
Hitherto, unfortunately, this enlightened principle has
not been exercised in cases for divorce to the same extent
as it has been brought to bear upon civil marriages, although
both institutions are equally important to the vital welfare
of the community. The dissolution of marriage by law is
still to a great extent under the influence of religious ideas
which do not take into account its public significance. Just
as the institution of civil marriage leaves the interests of
the Church out of account, so the institution of divorce
should likewise be ruled only by considerations bearing
upon State and Society.
Divorce should be made possible in all cases where marriage
does not fulfil its primary object, i.e. the procreation of
children, as, for instance, in cases of protracted absence or
illness which makes the birth of children impossible, or
undesirable on account of hereditary taints, such as epilepsy,
venereal disease, habitual drunkenness, cruelty, incurable
lunacy, mental debility, etc. This would set at liberty for
remarriage those who are otherwise well fitted to produce
healthy offspring, and would consequently avoid many
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