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742 East 6th Street
Pomona, California
January 28, 1949

Dear Bro. Erby (Wolfe):

I received your manuscript on the divorce question some time ago, but it found me very busy getting out a number of the Messenger, and have just now had time to give it the study that I thought was necessary to fairly appraise it.

I think it is very good, and I find nothing that seems to require correction. I fully agree with it all, and think it very good Scriptural exposition of the subject.

The trouble with these divorce extremists, is that they have invented their own rules for judging divorce cases and ignore both scriptural precept and example. For instance, we have the matter of marriage relations treated of throughout the Scriptures, from Eden on down to the time of Christ and the Apostles, yet there is not a single instance of any man of God taking any such position toward divorce and marriage as those who follow the Livermore teaching, or the teaching of the "Clapham Folly" that forgiveness is impossible unless the wedded couple separate, who make the living together of the man and wife who have been divorced and remarried living in adultery.

In fact they show a lack of understanding of the very meaning of adultery. Adultery is an act, not a condition. It is the act of unfaithfulness against the other member of the union. There is no such thing as adultery being committed by a lawfully wedded partner.

The great error committed by these theorists is that they ignore the plain teaching of Christ that the sin in the case is the dissolution of the marriage bond by unfaithfulness-adultery-committed against the other party of the union. They entirely pass over this obvious teaching of the Saviour, and make the getting of a divorce and re-marrying the great sin. Christ makes unfaithfulness the first and great sin. Christ makes unfaithfulness the first and great sin. If the marrying has not been dissolved, then, of course, the act of remarrying is an act of adultery committed against the other party.

Well, I did not start out to write anything on the subject, as I think you have covered it well, but if these scattered remarks are of any value, make the most of it. You do not say in the short note on the letter whether you want me to return it or not, but if you do, let me know. I would like to study it a little more.

Faithfully yours,

Oscar Beachamp

Bro. Erby Wolfe