SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19151, 21 October 1936, Page 4

SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

ANXIETY OF CHURCH “TOO MANY FAILURES” INVESTIGATION PROPOSED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A commission to consider the administration of marriage by- the Anglican Church in New Zealand is to be brought to the notice of the next general synod by representatives of the Auckland diocese as a result of a decision of the synod last night. During a long debate, considerable dissatisfaction with the conduct of many people attending weddings or being married was expressed by one of the speakers. The Rev. Gerard,-Vicar of St. Matthew’s Church, moved that “This synod direct its representatives to the general synod to take steps for the appointment of a commission to consider the administration in this province of the rite of holy matrimony, and that this commission be instructed, to collect evidence, to furnish a report, and to formulate recommendations, and that the findings of the commission be presented, first, to several diocesan synods of the province and, secondly, to the next meeting of the general synod.” No one, said Mr. Gerard, could fail to deplore the great number of marriages which were unsuccessful, and no little of the responsibility for these failures belonged to the church. LACK OF REVERENCE! Many marriages were entered into without sufficient evidence that the parties were fully prepared for marriage, or whether they fully understood the responsibilities into which they were entering. It might be possible to devise some means of presenting the full meaning of marriage to young people. “There is too often a total lack of reverence on the part of the congregation,” said the Rev. M. G. Sullivan, Vicar of Grey Lynn. “The situation is appalling to those who have to witness it.” Archbishop Averill said that a commission of the nature suggested had been set up by the general synod some years ago, but it had never met. The administration of the rite of matrimony was certainly one for which there should bo provincial regulations, and a commission should be set up. Whether all marriages should be civil first of all could be considered by such a commission. Again, more unity in the matter was needed. The archbishop found, however, that the last two proposals in the motion were irregular, and he moved an amendment, “That this synod direct its representatives to take steps for the appointment of a commission to consider the . administration in this province of the rite of holy matrimony.” The motion was carried unanimously in this form.