MARRIAGE LAWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1920, Page 1

MARRIAGE LAWS

( Australian & n.z. cable association]

A PRESBYTERIAN VIEW POINT AUCKLAND, Sept. 14. A Presbyterian viewpoint concerning the proposed new cltiase hi the Marring© Bill lias been expressed by the R’ov. 1. Jolly, minister of St. Stephen’s Church, Ponsonby, who said lie regarded the proposed new clause as a “piece of monstrous folly.” “As a stronglyconvinced Protestant,” said Mr Jolly, “I object to persecuting principles, and the proposed new clause, if enacted, would become an instrument of persecution. Again, every sincere Roman Catholic—of course, I believe Roman Catholics are wrong in regarding marriage as a sacrament, but the fact remains that the Roman Catholic Church declares matrimony to lie a sacrament—is bound to regard a marriage performed by one who is not a priost as insufficient. It is nothing to the point to say they are wrong in that. The fact remains that that is their sincere conviction, and to send them to gaol for holding that belief, and expressing it is to revive an era. of religious persecution by the State, As a Presbyterian I believe that God alone is the Lord of Conscience, and f object to a Roman Catholic priest being sent to gaol for his religious convictions. Every intelligent Protestant will object to it, and the folly of the proposal that the law could not possibly be enforced. Just imagine our Judges sending Archbishop O’Shea and Bishop Cleary to gaol for a year for expressing the views of the Roman Catholic Churcli on the question of marriage. The thing is absurd.” Continuing, Mr Jolly said the proposed clause might easily result in a Protestant being sent 'to gaol with a Roman Catholic. “While disliking a mere civil marriage hv a registrar,” he said, “our Church accepts it, but it the State enacts the grounds of divorce, which we believe to be contrary to the law of God, we are bound to regard people who are divorced on-those grounds as being still married, and any marriage entered into subsequently by them would be null and void. No Christian Church can allow the State to dictate its doctrine of marriage. Marriage is an ordinance of God, and the Christian Church cannot subordinate the law of God to an Act of Parliament. It seems to me it is time the Presbyterian Church was looking into this question of divorce, and its relation to Christian doctrine. I believe that in America our Church had simply to refuse to recognise grounds for divorce that were legal in many States.”

WE ISLINGTON PRESBYTERY’S VIEWS. WELLINGTON, This Day. A resolution moved at a meeting of Wellington Presbytery to put on record hearty approval of the proposed Amending Marriage Act, and hoping it would be” passed without alteration. Some doubt was expressed as to the exact meaning of tlie clause ■ and a certain amount° of opposition was offered. Air Comrie said the Roman Catholic Church should not have the right to impugn the validity of a marriage, but he wanted to be sure of the real interpretation of the clause. Ultimately a committee was appointed to obtain further information and the matter was adjourned. The Presbytery passed a resolution that while in favour of preparation for national defence, it strongly opposed lengthy periods of training in camps for youths under 22.