CLASSES FOR LOVERS

Southland Times, Issue 18821, 14 May 1920, Page 2

CLASSES FOR LOVERS

A VICAR’S PROPOSALS.

INSTRUCTING COURTING COUPLES

“If parents neglect their duties towards their daughters of marriageable age and leave them in a state of ignorance, then the clergy should step in anti conduct such classes as I have suggested.” Thus the Rev. Hugh L. Marsh, vicar of Mansfield, who proposes that instructional classes should be arranged for courting couples, explained his standpoint. “In certain districts where there is a very low code of morality,” said the vicar, “it would be necessary to impress upon young lovers the need for purity and the necessity for sanctity in marriage. “The papers are cramful of cases, where the law of purity has been broken before, as wedd as alter, marriage, and 1 think that the clergy are now prepared to take steps to provide bettor religious instruction on the subject.” For normal, healthy-minded couples the vicar also proposes to hold classes, these to deal with various problems of married life. Here is a syllabus which he suggests for such pupils:—Hygiene, exercise of tact, comradeship, need for common interests, seif sacrifice, respect for each other, vocation for marriage. “I am sure that such instruction would do away with the cause of a great deal of real misery,” he declared. "One wants young people to get married and to enjoy life, hut at the same time.” the vicar remarked ns an afterthought. ”1 daresay there are many occasions when it would lie better if there were far fewer marriages.” Asked whether he thought (he teachers should make it part of their duty to advise young love; s as to the suitability of their intended unions, the vicar laughed heartily. “Oh, dear no;” he said. I wouldn’t interfere. It would almost amount to coming he!ween a man and his wife, and you know what happens in such cases!”