MARRIAGE ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1930, Page 3

MARRIAGE ACT

UNUSUAL COURT ACTION. AUCKLAND, April 11. A prosecution of a most unusual rind, was board in the Magistrate’s Court, when Jesse Charles Hawkins, ■in engine-driver, took pro eedings against Louis Alfred Silson, a market pirdencr, under (he Marriage Amen: - - oent Act, 1920. The charge alleged hat Silson, on January 12th. “in the Cast street Hall of the Pentecostal hi!roll of New, Zealand'; known as tli \ssemblies of God inNew Zealand, lid allege expressly or by implication mat Hawkins and his wife (being persons lawfully married) -\Vere Pot truly ur! sufficiently married.” The Magistrate reserved his devision. •’*’ ' Mr Sullivan,- counsel for Hawkins, said: “For some time past there have ■•eon suggestions, bints. •,statements and staring's in the church to the effect-that lie devil was among-- ‘ bein’. .'Seven or eight months ago'-Silson -refused to shake bands-with Hnwkin*. -t he shaking of hands is evidently important- in this church.. Hawkihs asked Silson why. and Silson replied that Tlnwkiim and his wife were leading an improper life n

Hawkins, in evidence, said that Si 1 , •-.-on was a deacon, and occupied the pulpit on one occasion at a gathering of church members. Silson asked wi’nr>ss if hri (Hawkins’s) divorced wife was still alive. Witness replied in the 'iffirmative, and Silson then said that witness was not now married in the eyes of God. Sibon proceeded to rend extracts from the Bible—vetses 9 to 1.1 of 1 Corinthians, eh. 5. x Louis Alfred Silson said that thorp were about 500 members and 15*00 adherents of the Church in Now Zealand. It was a world-wide movement. He-was honorary secretary add deacon i 0 the Auckland branch, and believed in the constitution of the Church, hut would not say that Mr and Airs Haw..riis were not properly married. The Magistrate: What did yon read that particular piece of Scripture for? Any sensible man would see the alius-

SiUon : I am not responsible for tlie word of God. The Magistrate: No, I know. There are a lot of words thore that you must be careful in using. Mr Sullivan: When von read that piece to whom were you referring? Defendant: To them. T suppose. Mr Sullivan: Tn the eves of vour Church, they are sufficiently married 7 Defendant: Yes. The Magistrate: Then why did von use a certain term in connexion with them ? Defendant,: Because in the word of God they are. “It is a matter of the greatest importance.” said the Magistrate, who reserved his decision.