THE MARRIAGE BOND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4552, 24 November 1887, Page 3

THE MARRIAGE BOND.

\Argm) The disposition which exists in Australia at the present time to relax the * stringency of the marriage laws, has been sharply critised by more than one influential journal in England, observes our London correspondent. The Spectator for instance, has generally a good word to say for Australian legislation, but it condemns Sir Alfred Stephen’s “ new departure ” remorselessly. It holds the act he has induced the Legislature of New South Wales to accept to be hopelessly bad, calculated to destroy the lifelong character of the marriage bond, and drawn in “ an unblushing spirit of devotion to the rich, and contempt for the sacred corporation of the poor.” For these reasons, it insists, the measure must be sent back to be remodelled, which will afford the clergy an opportunity to convince the people of the colony that they are abolishing the fundamental law of society in order to avoid a few “hard cases.” The Guardian also views the act with alarm, and expresses the opinion that it may occasion “a very critical conflict between theChnrch and the civil power in Australia.” It trusts that the Queen may be advised to refuse the Royal assent to Sir Alfred Stephen’s act, if only on the around that it is inexpedient to have a different marriage law in the colonies from that which obtains at home. But since the Royal veto cannot be relied upon as a “ permanent veto against this threatened invasion,” the- Guardian exhorts _lhe Australian clergy to exhibit an inflexible determination to be forced into no step that is counter to the commands of Uio / Scripture and to unbroken Christian traditions. The Church should refuse to

assist at the re-marriage of divorced persons, and should expel them from communion and the participation of church priveleges. At the same time, the the Church organ forsees that a period of much trouble and anxiety is in store for the Church in Australia, but trusts that Bishop Barry will “ rise to the height of the occasion and justify great the expectations that were formed of his epispate.”