THE DECEASED WIFE’S SISTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 804, 22 December 1881, Page 3

THE DECEASED WIFE’S SISTER.

We comment the following to the newly elected member for Wmmate ; At the sitting nr the Anglican Synod ' of Australia at Sydney, recently, the Bishop of Perth proposed a resolution to the effect that the Synod of the 1 Diocese of Perth having referred to the General Synod a resolution that marriages with a deceased wile s sist |i r \>ere forbidden hy toe aws tf God, such resolution hi accepted by tne Synod, on behalf of Australia and lasinmia. He j contended that the question was of | superior importance, and one wiiich mu t be viewed in its religious aspect. Hie Dean of Melbourne seconded the resolution. contending that such marriages were not lawful from a scriptural point of view. The Archdeacon of miunceston ur fT ed the Synod to consider the question of refusing to marry persons so situated, and also the question of r. ceiving as members of tic Church of England those who had. been united by anotivT church under suet, conditions. The Bishop of Ballarat did not condemn such marriage:-, which he thought, advisable to allow, and moved an amendment to the ■ fleet that the Svnod were of opinion that the table of affinity should he obeyed, in the Church of Australia until altered by lawful authority. The Archdeacon of Daunc ’ston seconded. Bishop Moorhouse, of Melbourne, said that no one living was more sorry to find’snch marriages contracted than he was. It was inexpedient that they should take place, because he believed he saw all over the Worlu a loosening of those ideas of purity which existed when he was a boy. The effect of this amendment, if it was passed, would be that they would do all they could to prevent any clergyman of the Church of England from celebrating such marriages, but he wanted them to consider that they were dealing wit.i the interests of living human Bungs. No clergyman need now cclebrat -1 such marriages as those under discussion, but it was now proposed to tell him that if he were a loyal sou of the Church and obeyed the Synod he would not celebrate such marriage. If the Synod made the declaration that no clergyman might celebrate such marriages, they would put him in a nmst difficult position when he met any people who were so married. It meant that he mu.-t for over hold them excomrauircated. —(Cries of “ No.”) He did not mean excommunicated in so many wo:ds, but if a clergyman were not permuted to celebrate a marriage of this kind he ought not to have anything to do with the persons who contracted it. lie personally believed the Levitical code to apply only to the particular circumstances of a special people in a particular age. He disliked the e marriages, as he thought they meant the loosening of those ideas of purity which society had had in all ages, but the members of (he Synod weie asked to forbid any clergyman from c> lebrating such marriages, and he thought they should wait before they imposed such a strain on the hearts of a number of men who, apart from having- contracted such marriages, were amongst the best people he ever knew. After along discussion, no result was arrived at, other than pas- mg the previous question, as it was thought undesirable to come to snv definite conclusion upon a matter with respect to which great difference of opinion exists amongst members of the Church of England.