DIVORCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 8

DIVORCE.

THE ANGLICAN ATTITUDE,

The Dean of Newcastle (Dr. Golding Bird) preaching ill Newcastle Cathedral last week, referred to tho discussion on divorce which has recently taken place in England at the Church Congress. He said: "The Church of England, which claims to bo no unimportant part of the Church Catholic, his very explicitly declared that tho first object for which marriage was ordained was.the increase of the'human family. She has declared that since the contracting parties are no more twain, but one, that consequently the relations of either become tho relations of both, and that this relationship is' iiot dissolved by the death of either party. Hence, as an example, a man may not marry his dead wife's sister. The Church states, also very clearly, that she recognises no human authority which can dissolve a marriage. Tho Church gives her blessing to tho union, and in doing so she states very clearly that the sacramental union in marriage can only he dissolved' by death. It is true to say that the taking of - a high or low view of marriage is the sign of a strong or feeble Church. The Roman branch of tho Church (Catholic) has in tho past, in her wisdom or unwisdom, not infrequently granted dispensation, and allowed divorce, but the Anglican Church claims no" power to dissolve what her supreme head, Jesus Christ, declares in-' dissoluble. . She does not claim to be wisor than her founder. She fully recognises that tho indissolubility of-inar-' riage may mean, and on occasion "does mean, suffering for one or oven both of tho contracting parties, but sho sees equal,. or even greater suffering irremediable in other departments of life". Nowhere does she forbid'soparation by mutual consent, but sho does forbid, with all the authority sho possesses, the making of • a new matrimonial contract." • i ■