'In the Name of the Prophet !'

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 18, 22 January 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

'In the Name of the Prophet !'

That is a very extraordinary case thafc has just been before the courts from Ceylon, and which is now being much commented upon by the Anglo-Indian press. A Mr. Le Mesurier, a young man of good family holding a good position in the Ceylon Civil Service, has become a convert to Hahommedanism. He has signalled his change of religion in a way that has shocked the community even more than his renunciation of Christianity. A few years ago he married a charming young woman of good family, and now he has deliberately married another young* woman on the plea that, being a member of the Mahommedan faith, he is entitled to more than one "wife. The second wife is also English, and of very good family, and prior to hor arrangement i ■with. Mr. Lp Mesuriei- to become his second 'wife also embraced the Islam creed. Mrs. Le Mesurier No. 1 absolutely objects to the proceeding, and has brought suit, for judicial separation. To this Mr. Lo Mesurier point blank opposes, on the plea that two wives are necessary to him, and' that the English' law has no right to interfere with the loyal subjects' ' religious' views.' The Judge, however, holds that the man's status in Ceylon is a Christian status, and that an Englishman turning Mahommedan is subject to English law, except in matters belonging purely to the domain oi religion. And there the matter remains pending 1 appeal.