CAN A MINISTER MARRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1395, 4 June 1883, Page 3

CAN A MINISTER MARRY.

It is understood that the present ■ Earl Of Stamford (the Bey. . Harry j*roy) mnied himself Mh Hottentot lady present enjoys his undivided affections, ancl, as she has presented him with a son and heir, the question whether a clergyman can Marry himself is naturally causing considerable controversy in certain quarters. Tho reply of a witty bishop (to a clergyman i=i lu.; ilioeoxn who asked advice on this point)-' 1 Ytsi, if you can bury yoiu-self'—is, of course, only a clever evasion of a question In; either could not or would not answer, It is . highly probable that such a' marriage would bo considered illegal, arid that, if appealed to, ■ tho Courts would declare tlio issue of sucli a marriage would bo considered illegal, and that, if appealed to, the Courts would declare the issue of such a marriage legitimate. A clergyman of .the Church of England is by law cmpowered to perform the marriage ceremony, and the occasions upon which his services may bo dispensed with are distinctly specified—for nstance, people may be . married at a registry office, or in a Dissenting chapel—therefore, if a clergyman cannot marry himself, it ought to have been so stated in the list of exceptions. As the late Earl of Stamford settled ayear in strict entail upon the holder of the title, there is no doubt the matter will be fought out to the." bitter end."