Marriage, Divorce And Birth Control

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 276, 22 November 1935, Page 6

Marriage, Divorce And Birth Control

METHODISTS CONCERNED,

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Marriage, divorce and birth control should be discussed by a special committee of the next Methodist conference to report to the following conference, was tlio opinion of the North Canterbury Methodist Synod to-day, which carried a resolution to that effect without discussion. The following resolution was then carried oil the voices: “That this Synod is of the opinion that tho dissemination of knowledge in regard to birth control is partly . responsible for the declining birth rate in Great Britain and the Dominion. In view of the peril of such decline to the human race wc believe the church is unwise to give any countenance to propaganda that has very sinister aspects." '* Mr. L. Watson said that no resolution of the church would have any effect on a matter such as that under discussion. At present tho upper strata of society which had the knowledge had small families and the lower strata \vithout the knowledge had the largest families. Nothing tho church could do would alter that. Discussion at Feilding At tho Methodist Synod at Feilding yesterday Rev. H. Daniel continued the report of the Public Questions' Committee dealing with marriage, divorce and birth control. The Synod resolved to refer the matters back to tho committee for fuller consideration and for consultation with other loaders of the church. The Synod supported the following statement put forward by Mr. 11. R. French: — “That we call the attentiop of our people to the declining birthrate which has fallen from 41.2 per 1000,of population in the 1576ISSO period to 10.59 in 1933, and the record published iu the last Official Year Book that in tho five years from 1929-1933 15,599 births wero from conceptions occurring outside of marriage, and that the gains of births over doaths have fallen from 29.41 increase per 1000 in 1870 to 8.0.1 in 1933 with tho added probability that the greatest declension of child-birth is in the best-endowed classes of our citizens, wc urgo that tho joy, privilege and responsibility of parentage should not be evaded by healthy married people both for their own enrichment, tho progress of the rueo and tho fulfilment of tho Creator's purpose.