MARRIAGE OF DIVORCEES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 10 November 1934, Page 5

MARRIAGE OF DIVORCEES

PRESBYTERIAN ATTITUDE PROBLEM FOR MINISTERS (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. The Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday decided to- set up a committee on mairiage and divorce. The Rev. J. D. Smith pointed out that New Zealand divorces were six times as many as in England and Wales. There were 11 causes for divorce, and many divorces were granted under the desertion or separation clause. He gave figures showing an alarming increase, and also in the remarriages of divorcees. Ministers were often in a quandary in such remarriages. The Presbyterian doctrine contemplated marriage only between professing Christians. Mr. Smith urged that ministers should carefully instruct their young people in the principles of marriage. Ho would urge the preparation of a pamphlet on the matter which might be used by ministers. , , ~ The Bev. -T. Allan (Christchurch) said that it was not unknown that both'parties to a divorce were remarried in different Presbyterian churches. Ministers were in an invidious position when they were asked to remarry a divorced .person. A clear statement on the matter was needed, because the ministry was placed in an impossible position in making a decision as to whether to marry divorced persons or not. The Rev. J. Paterson urged that where a divorced party sought to make a second honorable start, in marriage, the church should not withhold its blessipg. It was pointed out that in 1921 the assembly made a pronouncement along the lines of Mr. Paterson’s contention. A discussion showed doubt in the mind of the assembly.