MARRIAGE AND MORALITY

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 3

MARRIAGE AND MORALITY

ANGLICAN SYNOD DEBATE. THE DIVORCE ISSUE. The Anglican General .Jjy nod discussed at Auckland yesterday Hie resolution of the Lambeth Conference dealing with problems of marriage and sexual morality. Bishop Averill moved that the Synod associate itself with resolution 67 of tho Lambeth Conference of 1920, as follows: ‘‘The conference affirms as our Lord's principle of the standard of marriage a lifelong and indissoluble union, for better nr for worse, of one man with one woman, to the exclusion of all others «u either side, and calks on all Christian people to maintain and bear witness to this standard. Tho conference, while fully recognising the extreme, difficulty of Governments in framing the marriage laws for citizens, many of whom do not accept the Christian standard, expresses the firm belief that in every country the Church should be free to bear witness .to that standard through its powers of ;ui_ininistration, and discipline exercised in relation to its own members." At Bishop Arc rill’a request the following clause was added to die motion: “In view of tho fact that the conference admits tho right of the national or regional Church within cur dominion to deal with cases which fall within the exception mentioned in the record of our Lord’s words in St. Matthew’s Gospel, under the provisions which such Church may lav down, the Frirnato be respectfully requested to appoint a. Recess Committee to consider the matter fully and to report to the next session of the Synod.”

Bishop Averill said he moved for reference to a committee because lie thought that in two or three years (scholars would come to conclusions more definite than at present. The controversy revolved round tho difficult position of the so-called' innocent party, and the Church s attitude depended on the interpretation placed on the passage in the Gospel of St. Matthew where fornication was mentioned as an exception to the Lord’s definition of adultery." The Lambeth Conference gave no advice as to the interpretation which should be placed on this important exception. He reviewed tho theories of Christ’s teaching on divorce. Archdeacon Charles had maintained that it was the. act of adultery itself, and not the Divorce. Court, which broke tho bond of matrimony. “ I am not ashamed to confess,” concluded Bishop Averill, " that it would givo mo the greatest joy and comfort if wo had permission to remarry the innocent party in our chmvhos. This would not be done, however, until the truth was established that the act of adultery Itself destroyed the bond. If this was proved it would be possible for tho Church to issue a decree of annulment.” In the course of the diesussion the Bishop added, that he was much afraid that the Government of the country would not legislate merely from a Christian point of view. “Wo have got to see that the State docs not stop us from standing up for our ideal." concluded the bishop. “If the State makes ms do what wo believe is against our conscience, we. must resist the State, I believe it is cur duty to do so.”

Bishop Spratt seconded tho motion. He did not. believe there was any original ambiguity in tho Lord’s teaching. The ambiguity bad arisen because of the forgetfulness arising through tho age*. He was sorry he could not say that tho (State was a Christian State. Such a (State did not exist in the world to-day. It was tho Church’s function to hold, up the moral idea, of what people ought to do and be, and tn foster an inner reverence for an ideal Slate. The debate, was adjourned.