Scientific Preparation For Marriage

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1947, Page 10

Scientific Preparation For Marriage

An organisation of great potentialities has recently been founded in London by a famous anthropologist and a Harley street psychologist ■ to assist men and women to prepare scientifically for marriage. Perturbed at the mounting divorce rate, they decided to open an experimental advisory bureau in an effort to combat the unhealthy trend by preventing unsuitable matches. “In the three weeks we have been operating, we have found that many young people wanting to marry are emotionally immature,” the psychologist stated. “Emotionally, they are children, and quite unfitted to enter into what should be a life-long partnership. If they will come to us we will try to awaken them to a realisation of what marriage really is and what it requires of both parties. We will examine a person and give advice as to qualities to be sought for in a mate suited to the temperament and mental outlook of the individual.” Already over 100 inquiries have been received from would-be brides and grooms from all over Britain. Ages range from 21 to 60, and inquiries include teachers, a headmistress, a doctor’s widow, railway porters, a professor, and business men. By far the largest proportion of inquiries for assistance and advice, however, have come from ex-service-men, principally from the R.A.F. They’ are mostly men who made hastv marriages before going abroad and “returned to find themselves tied to unfaithful wives whose conduct they could not forgive. Most of them are already divorced and before remarrying want to take all possible precautions to see that their second marriage will be the right choice. They want a proper home rife with a wife and children and are ready to go to great lengths to start on a proper foundation. “There are 54,000 divorce cases scheduled lor next year,” one of the society’s founders stated. “The prooortion of unhappy marriages, where the parties are living apart must be much larger. These days it is refreshing to meet people, either young or old, who are really anxious to; prepare scientifically for marriage. | Because they view- it ’so seriously, these are the men and women who are sure to achieve the happiness they deserve.”