TWO KINDS OF MARRIAGES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1930, Page 7

TWO KINDS OF MARRIAGES

PROPOSALS OF, DEAN INGE ONE A LIMITED CONTRACT RECOGNITION BY THE STATE PROBLEMS FOR THE CHURCH By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 10. Dean Inge proposes a startling marriage reform in his book “Christian Ethics,” which was published to-day. He suggests that marriages should be of two kinds, one a limited cqntraeti for persons who do not recognise life-long vows of fidelity '(this should be recognised by the State); the second, marriage for life, recognised by the Church. “It would be a scandalous and most dishonourable offence to break the latter vow, but if two persons wish a more limited contract I think the State should recognise their position as somewhat better than mere concubinage,” says Dean Inge. “Whether they should bo allowed to be members of the church raises a difficult question of discipline.’ Dean Inge would allow the State to grant divorce for desertion, brutal cruelty, habitual drunkenness, conviction of felony or concealment of bodily or mental defects, in addition to misconduct.

Dean Inge adds that he believes that if Christ had to face a hard case in marriage He would have said “marriage was made for man, not man for marriage.”