NO "NE TEMERE"

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1255, 11 October 1911, Page 3

NO "NE TEMERE"

REV. R, WOOD'S DENUNCIATION. AT CHRISTCHURCH. (By Tolczra ph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, October 10. At tho Christchurch Presbytery to-day a report was submitted on Sabbath observance. In the course of tho discussion the Rev. G. B. Inglis, after quoting a statement made at a meeting of the Ditnedin Society for tho Projection of Women aud Children, to the effect that a serious form of Sabbath desecration was the practice of young men in going away for week-end trips, and taking girls with them, said that it was as much wrong, for instance, for men to lie on a sofa and smoke and read a paper on Sunday, as it was to make the day a holiday. Pastors should all be more earnest in their preaching, and strive to makoi their preaching more attractive, and thus awaken a highra sense of responsibility as to tile sacredness of tho Sabbath. It was decided to form a branch of the Sabbath Alliance, and to hold a Presbyterian conference on the subject about February next. Rev. R. Wood on the Decree. The Rev. R. Wood luoved an overture to the General Assembly on the subjcct of the Xp Temerc decree on mixed marriages. After dealing with tho matter from a historical point of view, Mr. Wood went, on to say that a very clever, subtle, and long-winded pamphlet had been written by Dr. Clcary. In it tho writer endeavoured to make out that the decreo had been made more literal than it was but, as a matter of fact, the decree -simply declared that no marriage was valid unless it was solemnised by a Roman priest. That legislation took place at Easter, IGOS. This clerical meddling with marriage laws had created a reaction against clericalism in countries where the latter had previously been dominant. In Italv the Government had gone to the length 'of declaring that no marriage was legal unless .solemnised before the civil authorities. That was an extraordinary reaction. Mr. Gladstone had described tho situation well when he said that it \ra.i revolting and dangerous to society. Mr. Wood proceeded to state that mixed marriages had been valid for 300 years, but now. they were absolutely null and void. . "German People Would Not Have It." Mr. Wood went on to state that Dr. Fleming had raised this question: Was the will of tho Almighty in the hands of ■a weak, erring man like the head of'tho Vatican? A peculiar thing about the policy of the Church of Rome was that the whole of Germany was exempted from this decree. Why so? It was because tlio German people, would not have it. An outrageous Encyclical had been published by the Pope, attacking the Reformation, and vilifying tho 'reformers, and Germany was un in arms, and a diplomatic Note had been sent to the secretary of tlie Vatican. The result was that the Pope had'ordered the Encyclical not to bo published in Germany, and it was for fear of a similar outcry that the No Temero decreo was not published there. The result of this state of' affaire was that a decree which declared a certain kind of union to be concubinage in Christchurch was a legal marriage-in i Germany. . Catholic Catechisms Quoted. Mr. Wootl wont on to say that lie wished to point out that this legislation had already worked its way' into the penny and twopenny catechisms used by the Roman Catholic Churches in Now Zealand. He quoted from the "Catechism of Christian Doctrine" to fcliow that this was so. On-the other hand, it was not included in the New York nor in the British catcclnsm. There was thus a foul stigma, attached to these mixed marriages which ; had been solemnised in New Zealand since Easter, 1908. He added that; rceentlv, a heart-breaking letter had ii'en published in a Clirislchiirch daily paper, written by a woman whoso marriage had thus' been deplored null and void: In conclusion, Mr. Wood said that the'closing words'.of his overture, calling . on tho. Government to tako such measures as.wero necessary to-deal'-.with ■fthb'pffiition, w®e'"'dopfM l Tl. i Mfl df deliver-' anco passed by the United Free Church .of Scotland. The story of the notorious M'Cnnn' mixed' marriage case showed the harshness, wickedness, and cruelty ol" tlie' i operation of the decree. . It cut right across New Zealand legislation, and brought uubapniness into the homes of thoso who. contracted mixed marriages. Ho moved: "That tho overture lie transmitted to tho General Assembly."

A Means of Making Proselytes. The Rev. S. E. Hill seconded the motion. Ho said that the Church owed a debt to Mr. Wood for the work which ho had given to this subject. There was a depiorablo lack of knowledge concerning Reformation principles among young people in New Zealand. The decree was playing into the hands uf the Roman Church, and giving it a power of proselytising that it did not formerly possess. He did not wish to encourage mixed marriages, but these did take place, and since this iniquitous decree, what hojie had they o£ keeping Presbyterians who might happen to' bo so situated true to their Church? Very few such would care to adhere to their Protestant faith under the influenco of the decree. Presbytery Unanimous. At this stage the Presbytery went into committee to hear Mr. Hill's account of a young woman of his acquaintance who had married a Roman Catholic. On resuming in open Presbytery, the motion was. carried unanimously, and the Revs. R. Wood and S. E. Hill wero appointed to support the Overture before tho General Assembly.