MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 640, 18 October 1909, Page 3

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

Sir,—Your. correspondent "Watcher" denies tho truth of Bishop Neligan's statement about the "remarriago" of the .divorced. The Bishop said (seo JDoumox, October 9), that,in tho 'Church of tho Province of New Zealand, of which ho is a. Bishop, no person who has been divorced may be "remarried" (while his of her former partner is still alive). The Bishop's statement is absolutely correct, and, therefore, can hardly be called "utterly reckless" by any sane person. Its truth can easily, be • ascertained. Let "Watcher" read over, one of the printed forms which must be signed, by those desiring a Bishop's liccnse to marry. Scandals wliHi may have taken place in other branches of "ic Catholic Church have no bearing on the truth of what the Bishop said.—l' am, etc., ' ' . •VERACITY. •. October 14. ' Sir,—lf your correspondent "Watcher" will make inquiry,, ho will iind that the marriage of tho daughter. of a former. New. Zealand Governor, to which he refers in to-day's issue, was not solemnised in the Anglican Church 1 (Scottish. Episcopal Church), the authorities of the Church, having refused to sanction it. As far as' New Zealand is conoerned, such marriages could only take, placo in 011 Anglican ,Church;.- through tho parties making a: false .declaration either to tho Government Registrar or-to the Church authorities, or to both, and tho marriage is by Bishop's license, which requires a solonm declaration that neither party "has been divorced'from a partner now living.'' VI am,-etc.,! . ' ■ ANGLICAN. October 14. /,A' r, ~7^ n -reply Jour .correspondent : Watcher, m your issue of October 14, it,is only .fair, to say that the Bishop of Auckland is perfectly in order when he says that the ro-marriagc of divorced persons is unlawful. In tho "Form of Solemnisation of Matrimony" of tho .present Prayer Book in use in-the Church of .England, two things must be noticed:—

1. In. the bethrothal, tho pledge is first on both sides' one of mntual love, honour, and support. . Then, on the man's side, of comiort and protection, and on the woman's.of [service and obedience." It is emphatically dethis pledge is to be kept all through life, till: the nnion' shall. be severed by death. Both the man and tho • woman repeating the words, "till death us do part." 2. Immediately after the marriso tho priest makes, the solemn declaration, "Those whom God hatk joined together! let no man put asunder. . ; , . There is no'.cause that can justify or power on earth than can authorise the'breaking of a legal and true marriage .bond between Christians after the marriage has been consummated. ■ According to the Marriage Service as authorised, by ;■ the' Clinrch' of England, no bishop or priest can.-consent to the marrying of divorce* persons ' during i tho lifetime of .either party.'' . The teaching of Holy : Serijiure is.quite plain on'- this joint:—" ' '■'■''■,'■ 1.-St. Luke'xvi. 18:-"Every orio that pnttcth away, Ins wifo ami marrieth another, committeth adultery: and ho that, marrieth one that is pnt awnylrom a husband comniitteth adultery.";" ■-•.; •••■ -V, -..■•■ - -■ :. .■ , .• .

2. i. Corinthians vii.' 10-11: "But unto tho married I give charge, ysa not I but tho Lord, that the infe 'depart not from her husband (but. and if''she dep'ar.tiet her remain \mmari'tw?ii™ ?° f" 1011 " 1 " 1 f o her husband); and that the"husband'leave not'his wife.!' ' J( ?s«s Christjwas .'.top' explicit on this point to allow ot being: misunderstood, and St. Paul tenchee that, nothing but death can dissolve themama E e-bond. This is the teaching of tho Cnurch, and in her eyes no authority on earth' can. dissolve a legal' marriage.—l- am iic - ' ■ "■■;■■■ ANGLICAN.