"OBEY" IN THE MARRIAGE SERVICE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1126, 15 January 1884, Page 3

"OBEY" IN THE MARRIAGE SERVICE.

In practice the word ' obey,' as em ployed in the marriage service, is perhaps already obsolete, for what woman iu repeating the words ever intends to «ct according to her vow ? Such 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. These aie the opinions of several Boston clergymen, whose opinions on the subject are collated as follows by tha New York Daily Tribune : No. 1 said : " I always leave out the word ' obey' unless the brido or groom request it." No. 2 said : " The obligation is absolutely equivalent upon both mau and wife.—l omit the word ' obey' because it has no binding force in practice." No. 4: "I never used the word 'obey,' and never intend to use it. I can see no reason why the wife ■hould obey the husband any more than the husband the wife." No. 6 : " I never use the word, and think it is not customary in the Protestant churches of to-day. Ihuve 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 expressing similar opinions represented all the leading Protestant denominations. A majority were against the use of the word. In England the American example has already found imitators, who plead that after all they are only adjusting formula to fact.—Pall Mall Gazette.