PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY AND NE TEMERE DECREE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15350, 13 January 1912, Page 12

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY AND NE TEMERE DECREE.

TO THE KDITOH. Silt,—l do not think that "Cotninotisenso" chose a suitable nom-de-plumo wheii he thinks that a decree like Xe teniere, which was originated in an enlightened age, can In; justilicd by simply bringing forward (lie marriage laws of oilier eliurcltes.uhicli are etpially bad, but were framed hundreds of years 'ago in an intciisoty ignorajit and superstitious age. Kveit if he could adduce marriage laws of other churches equally objectionable anil framed in Ihu Iwentielh century, he ought to be able .lo see tliat even this would in no way tend to justify the No temere decree, but would simply show that these other chiireluw were "on the same mental piano in this rcjpcct as the Church of Kpiiic. Two wrongs do not make a right, and an objectionable law cannot be justified by pointing out another law npially objectionable ill another church. If our friend had any real common sense ho ought h> be able to see that no one in this, or any other age, has any moral right lo pjisi an unrepealable law ihat will bind flit lire generations for ever. This being so. we are not bound to accept in every detail or to adhere to the siriel letter to legislation pas.-ed in mediieval times, although we may accept it in the main. Most people will clieerfttly admit that no evil eonsiiiueiices would arise if a man married his deceased wife's sister- and that this, therefore, is not a crime in the nature ol things. This Iving so, 1 hold that il would lie absurd for |>eople in this enlightened age. and in ages to come, lo go on believing it to lie wrong for ever, simply because an assembly in an ignorant age decreed I hat it was. wrong. Aivuit 300 years ago the belief in witchcraft was almost universal, and thousands of people in every town of Ktirope were charged with being in league with the Kvil Duo. were tried, found guilty, and burned al lite stake. Even religious reformers like Luther and Wesley bdioviil in witchcraft, and the latter said plainly that to give up witchcraft was lo give up the lViblc. The ditleront churches at this time, when arguments failed t"> convince or convert, used to fall back on the thumbscrew, rack, and faggot 1 mention all this to show that we should not lake fc.r granted the ideas and beliefs of our forefathers, but I tint they slioubl ho examined in the light of our modern learning. As for the law forbidding a man lo marry his tltvoaseil wife's sister being repealed on the north side of the Wait.J;i while still in force on the south side, it: my opinion ihi* simply -hows that, tho Northern Assembly was more progressive than Ihat of Ougo. If it is line that this law is still in force in Scotland, while it has been repealed all over Now Zealand, then in my opinion ihi< prove, ilial New Zealand i< more progressive in this respect ilitm Scotland.—l am, etc.. It. W. Purse. Milton. January 11.