MARRIAGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 24 May 1923, Page 7

MARRIAGE.

CHURCH AND STATE.

PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM CHRISTCHURCH, Wed.

At to-day’s session of the Church Congress, Archdeacon H. W. .Williams (Gisborne) spoke on the question of marriage, ■which he classed as being of the highest importance to the Church, to the State, and to t.lie individual. He deplored Ihc decrease in the birth-rate and postponements of marriages until the parties were becoming advanced in years. He traced the causes of broken marriages, drunkenness, gambling, etc., and contended that until Hie Church, attacked them with both moral and spiritual weapons there could be little hope of success. It must be realised that the Church could not look for real assistance from the State. The tendency of civil law’s was 1o diverge even more widely from the Christian view. In those conditions it would seem to be the best procedure that all marriages should take place before a Government official, who should register the civil contract, involved; that the Church should recognise the distinction between such marriage and Christian marriage; that she should refuse to lie associated with any marriage which did not conform with her standard, or was otherwise scandalous, and that she should reserve her service and benediction for those alone who were in communion with her and who therefore accepted that standard.