Marriage of Divorced Person

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 288, 5 December 1936, Page 5

Marriage of Divorced Person

Doubtful if Anglican Clergyman Would Officiate

BISHOP HOLLAND EXPLAINS CHURCH’S ATTITUDE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. An explanation of tho attitude of the Anglican Church toward King Edward’s proposed marriage to Mrs. Simpson was given by the Bishop of Wellington (Et. Uev. H. St. Barbe Holland) in an interview to-night. “The position of tho Church is that an innocent party to a divorce may claim under the civil law to be married in an Anglican Church, if the party can secure a clergyman willing to perform the ceremony,” said Bishop Holland, “but an interesting fact is that no clergyman can be compelled by law to do it. Very few—only one or two here and there —are willing to marry divorced porsons. They feel that the Church must stand for the highest moral standards of marriage. In the case of very great hardship the practice is for the clergy to advise the parties concerned to have the marriage performed at a register office, and then if they wish to come to tho Church, for its blessing in the marriage service of the Church, both the bride and bridegroom take a vow ‘to live as man and wife until death us do part.’ “If tho Church condoned tho marriage of divorced persons, it would make a mockery of the oath of life partnership until death intervened. When the Church has set such a high standard of marriage in the first instance, it would stultify the marriage oath in marrying divorced persons. The vow does not say, ‘until death or adultery doth us part.’ “In view of the Church's attitude,” continued Bishop Holland, “it is highly unlikely that tho Bang could get an Anglican clergyman to marry him and Mrs. Simpson. ’ ’ Referring generally .to what he believed must be the view of the majority of the King’s subjects toward his relations with Mrs. Simpson, Bishop Holland said that, since tho enactment of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, the Crown was the only link that tied the Empire together. In view of that fact, it was a matter of increasing concern to all of tho constituent parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations that the wearer of the Crown should represent all that was highest and noblest in what had been handed down through history as tho ideal of life, both public and private. Tho King had, therefore, a responsibility which must win for him the sympathy of all his subjects and make the most of them ask, “who would be King?” The wearer of the Crown must be willing to sacrifice his own private desires for the sake of fho responsible position with which he wa3 entrusted.

It was clear that the great majority of the subjects of the Throne would agree with the Church’s outlook that a great ideal had been lost were such an event as the suggested marriage of the King to take place. Greatly as they would deplore the passing from the Throue of one who had won the hearts of the people by his wonderful sympathy with the under-dog and the oppressed, and though none would wish to dictato to him, they must express and adhere to the conviction that his Majesty would do grievous wrong to tho heritage handed down to him were ho to fulfil the desire attributed to him of taking as his partner one who had been twice divorced.

Opinion in United States MATTER RECEIVING FULL PUBLICITY. Kcceived Friday, 7 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 3. With the exception of a small irresponsible minority, showing little or no discretion in the matter it printed, the American Press evidenced considerable reticence in discussions on the King until yesterday, when the floodgates wero let down aud the most reserved journals indulged iu the fullest sensationalism. The newspapers to-day devote many pages to the crisis. Editorially the comment is still considerably confused.

The New Y'ork Sun takes the English Press to task for its attempts to suppress the news. Tho World-Telegram wonders whether the old British custom of compromise will prevail and they will muddle out.

The American newspapers have made strenuous efforts to obtain the views of all visiting British notables, virtually all declining, but there are some exceptions.

Mr. Hugh Walpole said it was not because Mrs. Simpson was an American that England would spurn her as Queen; it was because the Crown, that very sensitive ideal, would lose caste and unity in a woman twico divorced. Comment from Americans who permit quotation are virtually uniform. Typical examples are Sinclair Lends: “ We have the feeling that a man has a right to his own private life.” Mrs. Borah: “I hope the marriage will come to pass.”

, Distress at the Vatican Beceived Friday, 7.30 p.m. ROME, Dec. 3. While the world is discussing the crisis, the Pope and Vatican leaders have not heard the news. The newspapers broke the silence with columns of restrained, tactful dispatches from London, which caused distress at the Vatican, but did not reach the Pope and high prelates, who are in a spiritual retreat under vows of silence until December a.