DIVORCE LAW AMENDMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2111, 9 August 1894, Page 15

DIVORCE LAW AMENDMENT.

The committee of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland appointed to watch over legislation affecting the interests of religion and the church met on August 1 to consider the Hon. J. MacGregor's bill relating to divorce. The Outlook states that the following was unanimously agreed to :—: —

That marriage is a divine institution, legislated for by its Divine Author. It is the duty of individuals, and of communities and their Governments, to have respect to that legislation, and to conform to it. Seeing that marriage was instituted before the existence of civil society and civil rule, and that its Divine Author has determined the nature and the duration of the relation formed by marriage, and what according to His infinite wisdom warrants the dissolution of that relation, it is not competent for any human Legislature to regard and treat marriage as if it were a mere civil institution, or to traverse the Divine legislation regarding it, by, for instance, sanctioning grounds of divorce other than God has allowed. Where such other grounds have been sanctioned by civil authority the sanctity of the marriage bond has been 10-t sight of, its indissolubleness has been tampered with, and the moralities of domestic life interfered with, to the injury of domestic and social peace and purity and well-being. Tho bill before Parliament sanctions grounds of divorce not allowed of God in His word, the revelation of His will, and ip, thorufore, inconsistent with the obligation resting upon the Legislature of a professedly Christian community. As representing such a community, the Legislature is bound to have regaid to the revealed will <>f God, and to legislate iv accordance with it. To legislate in opposition or contrary to it is to do violence to the Christian cinsci-nce of the community, and to insult the Christian religion recognised by the Legislature in the daily prayt-rs by which it soleinuly invoked the Divine presence and owns His authoi ity. The other causes which the bill p> oposea to make grounds of divorce fall within tbe domain of criminal legislation, and should be dealt with accordingly. For these, among other reasons, it is prayed that Parliament may not pass this bill, except in so far as it equalises the crime of adultery on the part of husband and wife.