the Church, and his conscience, is
at this date, an anom...
The State is
ally, undoubtedly
interested in seeing that the important contract of marriage is entered into by persons of proper age,
without disability, with reasonable
understanding, with the consent of parents or guardians, and
with such a degree of publicity, so recorded and
registered that proof of it is at all times easy, and the object
of the Marriage Ordinance is to secure
the attainment of these ends.
...
at the Court door, the necessity for such notice to the Registrar with publication on
certificate or licence, for the requirement that marriages should be celebrated in some place sanctioned by the Authority for such purpose, and for registration. But the Roman Catholic Church recognized the propriety
and necessity of these precautions long before they
were introduced
256
introduced into the legislation of any country in Europe,
and the Roman Catholic Church enforces them to this day, everywhere, and with more efficiency than the State can do. If by the voluntary action
of a highly organised religious body like the Catholic Church, proper and effective provision is made for the protection of the interests in the marriage contract of the State, and of Society, why should the law step in and force on the Church
a system less effective for attaining the end in view, and which Church and State alike desire to attain, and which violates the conscience and is against the law of universal toleration in religious matters, which is the guiding principle of English Government to-day?
In England the Church of England is free to marry according...
Lo...
Page 120 appears to be delineated by context
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