MARRIAGE STATISTICS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2154, 20 January 1881, Page 3

MARRIAGE STATISTICS.

['* Wanganui Herald."] It is obvious that the statistics of marriage may be made to explain many social and religious phenomena, such as the material prosperity of the people, and the relative pro gross of the different denominations. In 1879 the material prosperity was not so great as in tho year previous, and hence the number of marriages in the colony, notwithstanding an increase of population, had actually fallen off. But what will be of more interest to know a great many remarkable changes during tho last deoade have occurred in the statistics of marriages relative to the different denominations. Our attention waß called to the subject by the following leaderette in the Weilington "Evening Post:" "Considerable interest is at all times taken in the progress of the various religious bodies, and more especially in the proportionate growth of the two leading divisions of Protestants and Oatholios. Owing to the active proselytising zeal of the latter body, and the numerous conversions announced in the press, it was for a long time believed that the Catholics wore gaining ground more rapidly than Protestants, until Mr Gladstone took the matter up, and from a comparison of marriage statistics —in the caso of Catholics by far the most reliable standard of comparison—showed that such was not the case. A reference to the statistics of New Zealand appears to show that judged by tho same standard, the Catholics of this colony scarcely maintain their proportional equality with Protestants. OE the total number of marriages performed in 1863, the number of Catholic marriages was 15'9 per 100; in 1871 the number was 15 - 2 per cent. ;in 1871 it was 12 3 per cent. ; and in 1879 it was 12.2 per cent., thus showing a gradually growing proportionate decrease in Catholic mamages. The oase herein, it occurred to us, was but partially stated—the comparison ought to have gone further, and shown how the other denominations stood at tho different periods. We therefore supplement the statement by the figures of the Protestant denominations in the years 1871, 1874, 1879. Let us take first of all the Wesleyans, and see how they stand with respect to marriages. In the first year (1871) the number of marriages performed by Wesloyan Ministers were 215, or 11.5 per cent, of the total marriages of that year. In 1874 the marri-iges were 278, or 9 8 per oent. of the total marriages in the same year. In 1879 the marriages were 303, or 9 per cent, of the total number of marriages in that year. Here then is a falling off as marked as that of the Catholics; in faofc even more so, for the decline is greater in the second period from 1874 to 1879. So much for the Wesleyans ; now let us take the Presbyterians. In 1871 tho number of marriages was 656, or 35 1 per cent, of the total number of the year. The year 1874 gives the marriages as 945, or a proportion to the total number of 33 3 per cent. In 1879 the marriages were 993, or only 29 C> per cent, to the total number of marriages for the year. Here again there is a steady falling off in each period, the decline in the second being greater than in either of the other denominations referred to. The fall from 33.3 to 29 6 must appear rather alarming to tho heads of this body. We pass to the Ohuroh of England. In 1871 the marriages in this denomination were 422, or 22 6of the total number. In 1871 they were 718, or 25 3of .the total. In 1879 they wore 739, or 22 per cent, of the total marriages in the year. Here we have a difforent order of facts. There is a great bound in the first period from 22.6 to 25.3, while in the second period there is a corresponding rebound from the latter proportion to 22, or back below the proportion of 1871. Still there is a comparative gain on tho other denominations, for while they have receded by not less than 2 por cent, on the first year, the Church of England has nearly maintained its proportion. Summed up in a few words—all the principal religious bodies, except tho Church of England, show a greatly declining proportion of marriages to the total number, while the Church of England has nearly maintained its ground. At this point the astonished arithmetician will ask where has been the corresponding gain—how is the equation to be preserved ? The reply is simply that " the Rev. Mr Registrar" expresses as nearly as possible the gain equivalent to the lobs sustained by tho denominations. Tho minor sects havo a slight gain, not worth noticing, but the Registrar accounts for the curious but impartial figures, we have been placing beforo our readers. Let us see how the matter stands. In the year 1871, 170 marriages wore celebrated by the Registrar, or a proportion to the total number in that year of 9.1 per cent. In 1874, 291 marriages were celebrated, or 10.2 of the total. In 1879, there were 595 marriages, ar 17.7 per cent, of the total number for the year. These are facts which it may be worth the while of those most concerned to digest. The most interesting part of the enquiry will be as to the causes which are making marriage more and more every year a civil ceremony. Is it that marriage before the Registrar is less expensive to the parties P Or is it that there is growing up ia the colony an increasing number of young people who belong to no Church, and who do not look upon the interposition of the clergyman as essential to their future happiness and respeatability ? Whatever the true cause may be, there can be no doubt it lies deep in the social condition of the people, and cannot be removed except in connection with other changes of a radical kind. Nor do we know whether a change is desirable. On this point the statistics of the moral condition of the rising generation will have something to say.