"OBEY" IN THE MARRIAGE SERVICE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1132, 31 December 1883, Page 2

"OBEY" IN THE MARRIAGE SERVICE.

In practice the word “ obey,” as employed in the marriage service, is perhaps already obsolete, for whal woman in repeating the words ever intends to act according to her row ? Snch things belong to the past, and the enlightened woman of to-day knows too well on whom, if there can be any talk of obeying, will fall that duty. The day is not very far off when the word will be altogether dismissed from a vow, each word of which was once considered most weighty. America, of course, leads the way. This is the testimony of several Boston clergymen, whose opinions on the subject are collated as follows by ihe New York Daily Tribune :—

No. 1 said : “I always leave out the word ‘obey’ unless the bride or groom request it.” No. 2 said : “ The obligation is absolutely equivalent upon both man and wife. I omit the word * obey * because it has no binding force in practice.” No. 4 : “I never nsed the word ‘ obey,’ and never intend to use it. I can see ho reason why the wife shonld obey the hnsband any more than the husiiand tlijeJvife^ , ' "N<>. GT “I' nercc nsed the word, and think it is_ not customary in the Protestant churches of (o-dny. I have never been asked to use the word, but frequently have been requested to leave it out of the service.” No 7 : “I say ‘obey in love,’ which thereby robs it of all objection.” These clergymen and others express?ing similar opinions represented all the leading Protestant denominations. A majority were against the use of the word. In England the American example has already fonnd imitators, who plead that after all they are; only adjusting formula to fad.— Pall Mall Gazette.