A MARRIAGE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 11

A MARRIAGE BILL.

Mr. Holman's (New South Wales Government) announcement of his intention to introduce a Hill at some future date amending the marriage law by making it compulsory for all persons contemplating lmm-iagu to obtain a certificate Irom the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages before presenting themselves before ii clsrsyinnn for the religious ceremony has already evoked adverse criticism from .a minister of religion. But from the point of view of the- State there is little weight in the contention that the new departure, would be likely to cause persons contemplating marriage to content themselves with a civil marriage in the registrar's office and to dispense with the religious ceremony altogether. Being compelled to go to the registrar in any case, it is nrg;;?d, for a certificate that they are of the. right age or have obtained tho conssnt of parents- or guardrails, the prospective bride and bridegroom will bo tempted to enter into the civil contract of marring before the registrar and to omit tho customary religious ceremony. However, as the matter stands at present, it is opan to all persons whn are registered as ministers of religion to perioral the ceremony of marriage, and the State accepts the certificate *f nil such registered ministers as evidence that the man and woman, who have appeared licioro them are legally married. A religious service conducted in the proper spirit and! m seemly surroundings assuredly sniiohnes marriage and helps those, who enter into tho matrimonial relation to realise its holiness as well as its binding force. But unfortunately the kind of religious service which is performed in a "marriage shop" is not calculated to impress people who resort to those establishments with the idea that their marriage is thereby sanctified. And the form of words. _ hastily pabbled by a ppr?on holding a license as a" minister, tin often, legalises a hasty, careless and ill-considered marriage destine;! from tli!> first to end in domestic unlisininess. Tf such raomages can be abolished by Mr. Ho!man h contemplated nmendmont'of tho mamaao law. the. gain to the community would be undoub(-rd.