DIVORCE IN A CHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 33, 16 August 1890, Page 11

DIVORCE IN A CHURCH.

The author of ‘ Reminiscences of a Literary and Clerical Life,’ himself a clergyman, narrates an amusing anecdote which his reverend grandfather used to tell alsmt an ignorant young couple in his parish. The old minister had married them, but the marriage had turned out to l>e illadvised, and after a while things came to a desperate pass. The couple had vast, undefined ideas of what a rector could do, and it entered into their foolish minds that he might be unable to undo their unhappy marriage. So they asked him whether he could not take them into church again, and perform some service that would set them free, as they hail lieen before. The rector meditated for a moment. ‘ Yes,’ he said, ‘ I think if you come to church I can put von in the way of tiecoming unmarried. But it is a curious kind of business, and instead of coming to the altar, as liefore, you will have to go to the belfry.’ The unfortunate pair readily assented, ami at an appointed hour went to the church, where the rector marched them into the belfry. ‘ You see those two trestles,’ he began. ‘ The husband will have to stand on one of them, and the wife on the other.’ With much wonderment the man and woman followed his instructions. ‘ Now, each of you take a bell-rope in your hand.’ This was done. ‘ Now-, then, tie the ropes round your necks and jump off the trestles.' ‘ Good lack, sir !’ said one of them, ‘we should be hanging ourselves!’ ‘ Exactly,’said the minister ; ‘ that is just what I mean. Theonly way in which you can unmarry yourselves in church is by hanging yourselves in the belfry.’ The young couple dropped the ropes in haste, and the minister proceeded to give them a lecture upon mutual forbearance and affection, it is to be hoped with good results.