MARRIAGE FAILURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1936, Page 7

MARRIAGE FAILURES

ANGLICAN CONCERN

DECISION Op SYNOD

(By Telegraph'.—Pres? Association.) AUCKLAND, October 20. The appointment of a commission to I consider the administration oi marriage by the Anglican' Church in New -Zealand is to be brought to the notice ol the next general 'synod by representatives of the Auckland diocese as a result of a decision of synodI',1', tonight. During a long debate considerable dissatisfaction with the conduct of many people attending weddings or being married was expressed by'one of the. speakers. .- \ The Rev. G. V. Gerard, vicar of St. Matthew's Church, moved: ''That this synod direct its representatives to general synod to take steps for the appointment of a commission to» consider the administration in this province ct the rite of holy matrimony and .that this commission be instructed to collect evidence, to furnish a report,'and to formulate recommendations, and that I the findings of the commission be prei sented first .to the several diocesan synods 'of the province, and secondly to the next'meeting of general synod." No one, said Mr. Gerard, could tail to deplore the great number of' marriages which were unsuccessful, and no little of responsibility for these faSJures belonged to the Church. Many piarriages were entered into without sufficient evidence that the parties re fully prepared for marriage or whether they fully understood the responsibilities into which they were entering. \ It might be possible to devise some means of presenting the full meaning of marriage to young people. i - "There is too often a total lack of reverence on the part of the congregation," said the Rev. M. G. Sullivaa, vicar of Grey Lynn. "The situation its appalling to those who have to witness 1 'Archbishop Averill said a commis-l sion of the nature suggested had been I set up by general synod some years ■ ago, but it' had never met. The administration of the rite of matrimonj was certainly one for which there should be-provincial regulations, and a commission should be set up. Whether all marriages should be civil first of all could be considered by such a commission. More unity in the matter was needed. The Archbishop found, however, tnat the last two proposals in the motion were' irregular, and he!; moved an amendment, "That this synod direct its representatives-.-to-take-'steps for the appointment of a commission to consider the administration in this pro* vince of the rite of holy matrimony." The motion was carried unanimously in this-form.