HEALTH MARRIAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12772, 25 May 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

HEALTH MARRIAGE.

DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE EXACTED NEW YORK, April 12. At. the cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul m Chicago this week are being solemnised tho first marriages under a new scheme recently announced by the dean and eliapter, by which no couples will be married there m future unless they come to church provided with tl certificate of good health, Tho 'announcement of the cathedral authorities that the marriage service must, safeguard as far as possible the generations to come has been widely criticised bj' clergymen arid others, who have maintained that the Church has nothing to do with eugenics. It is argued that if certificates of health are to be incumbent on candidates foi' matrimony they should be supervised by the civil authorities before a marriage license is issued.

Dean Sumner, of Chicago, declares that, notwithstanding the, criticisms, he will persist m the new policy. Ho says he is much gratified to observe that ''the majority of people approve the philosophy of our action, and recognise the desirability of placing some safeguard on marriage. The Church and the State must take the initiative m such matters.

The first couple married under the new regulations were Ruth Palmer, aged twenty,, and Albertus Bod©, a policeman, aged twenty-eight. When they presented themselves before Dean Sumner he inquired, "Have you certificates of health?" "No, we forgot them," was the reply. A brief consultation was held, and th© couple departed and returned an hour later with a paper bearing the following : — ■ .

I hereby certify that Ruth Palmer and A. W. Bode are neither mentally nor physically deficient, nor have they any incurable or communicable disease. J. G. Craig, Physician and Surgeon. Both the bride and bridegroom expressed, emphatic approval of the plan enforced at the cathedral .