The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-08 00:00:00

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S
SISTER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,--The Committee of t 11.,, Marriage Law Reform As-
sociation arc desirous of again submitting to I üblic attention
the following greatly abridged Statement of Facts and Opi-
nions, tending to show the Scriptural lawfulness of mar-
riage with a deceased wife's sister, and the consequent
necessity for its legalisation in Great Britain and all its
colonies, in accordance with the practice of other Christian
nations.
Representing the tens of thousands who are affected by
the existing law, and encouraged by extended and influen-
tial support, they pledge themselves to increased and per-
severing exertions to obtain for all marriages with a de-
ceased wife's sister that validity which, with the unanimous
consent of the Bench of Bishops, was accorded to all those
celebrated before the 31st of August, 1835.
Every day's observation yields fresh proof of the fre-
quency of these marriages, of their happy, results to mother-
h-ss children, and of the favourable estimation in which
they are held by society, and the committee feel increas-
ingly confident that, as the result of natient effort and tem-
perate discussion, the law of the land on this important
point will, at no distant period, be brought into conformity
to the law of God.
With regard to the number of such marriages, they
would particularly call attention to the fact relating to the
united parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, "Westminster.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH S CANSBURY, M.A., Hon. Sec.
21, Parliament-street, March 8, 1862.

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"Neither shalt thou take a woman to her sister to vex her
—beside the other, in her lifetime."—Lov. xviii., 18.
FACTS.
Fact 1. Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is nowhere
prohibited, whether expressly or impliedly, either in the
Old or New Testament.
Fact 2. Marriage with a Nkife's sister is expressly legislated
for in Leviticus xviii., 18, and there the prohibition is
strictly limited to the lifetime of the wife.
Fact 3. The Jews, to whom, in their own language, the
sacreil oracles were given, have always understood this mar-
riage to be impliedly permitted in Leviticus xviii., 18, and
set a special mark of approbation on such unions by allow-
ing them to take place, when there were young children
within a shorter interval after the death of the wife than in
ordinary cases,
Fact 4. This marriage was never prohibited by the laws
of any country in the world before the fourth century of
the Christian era.
Fact 5. None of the Six General Councils, hell between
A.D. 325 and A.D. 680, condemned this marriage.
Fact 6. During the first 500 years of the Christian era
this marriage was condemned by only one provincial coun-
cil, that of Eliberis, in Spain, composed of 19 bishops.
This council also forbade tapers to be lighted in cemeteries
in the daytime, that the spirits of the saints might not be
disturbed, and required bishops, priests, and deacons to live
apart from their wives.
Fact 7. The Church of England nowhere claims autho-
rity to prohibit any marriage act contrary to Holy Scrip-
ture.

N°. 21,744