NE TEMERE DECREE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 5

NE TEMERE DECREE.

"MEDDLING WITH MARRIAGE LAWS." I " CONDEMNED BY PRESBYTERY. [BY TELEGRAPH.- —rHESS" ASSOCIATION.} : ; . Chkistchttrch, Tuesday. : At a meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery to-day it was decided ;to form a branch of the Sabbath Alliance, and to hold a Presbyterian conference on the subject in February next. Rev. R. Wood moved an overture to the General Assembly on the subject of the Ne Temere decree, of -which he gave notice" , a month ago. After dealing with the matter from a historical point of view, Mr. Wood said that a pamphlet had been written by Dr. : Cleary in which the writer tried to make out that the decree had been made more liberal than it was, but as a matter of fact the decree simply declared that no marriage was valid • unless it was solemnised by the Roman Catholic priest. ; This clerical meddling with the marriage laws had created a; reaction - against clericalism in; • countries where 1 the latter had been dominant. Mr. Wood said that mixed marriages had been valid for 300 years, but now they were absolutely null and void. •' • ■ ' Dr. Fleming raised the question— the will of the Almighty in the : hands oi weak, erring man, like the head of the Vatican \ Mr. Wood said the decree cut right across New' i Zealand <* legislation ''M and brought unhappiness into the homes ot those who contracted mixed marriages.: He moved that the overture be trans mitted -to• the- General Assembly. Rev. S. E. Hill; seconded the motion. He said the Church owed a debt to Mr. ; Wood for the work he had given to '.the subject. The decree s was Splaying -into the * hands -of the Roman Catholic- Church and giving it -a power ;of * proselytising that it did not formerly possess. He did not wish :to encourage mixed marriages.' But these did take, place, and since this miquitious decree, what hope had they of I keeping i Presbyterians ;so situated f true to their [ Church? Very few such would care to adhere to their : Protestant faith under the influence of the decree, i At this stage the - Presbytery went into committee to hear Mr'.; Hill's account of a young ; woman of his acquaintance who married a Roman Catholic. On resuming in open Presbytery, ;, the > motion was carried uinannimously, and > the .«" Revs'. Wood and S. E. Hill were appointed; to" support the overture , before the General Assembly. . • : .