The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-25 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

A TREATISE on the ACT for MARRIAGES in
ENGLAND, and the ACT for REGISTERING
BIRTHS, DEATHS and MARRIAGES,

Passed in the late Session, with Practical Directions, 6-c. ;
and an Appendix containing the Acts.

BY SYDNEY ASPLAND, ESQ., OF THE KIDDIE TEMPLE.

Longman, London, 1836.

This little treatise ought to be in the hands of every
one. The Acts which it explains, particularly the Mat-
riage Act, are of deep and universal interest, and
no more useful or acceptable service could have been
perfortncd to the public, than that which has been ren-
dered by Mr. A spland in the work before us. The learned
author conceiving that what concerns all ought to be fa-
miliar to all, has wisely divested his language of that
technicality which lawyers are so fond of using-, and
by adopting a simple and, popular style, has made the
various provisions of the Acts in question so plain that
he who runs may read.
Our limits will admit only of a short extract. We
select the following passage on the duty and rights of
Dissenting ministers under the Marriage Act

DUTY AND RIGHTS OF DISSENTING MINISTERS.

" ON MARRIAGES.—As a registrar must he present at
every marriage solemnized in a registered place of worship,
the Dissenting Minister is relieved of nearly all responsi-
bility. He is required to sign in the marriage register
book the entry of every marriage solemnized by or before
him, c. 85, s. 23, and should satisfy himself that the place
of worship in which the marriage is solemnised is the regis-
tered building specified in the notice and certificate ; that
the person attending at the marriage as a registrar of mar-
riages of the district, including the registered building, is
in fact such (which may be ascertained, if there be doubt,
by inquiry at the superintendent's office); that the mar-
riage is had within three calendar months after the entry of
the notice of marriage, the time of which will appear on the
superintendent's certificate, or on the licence if the marriage
be so solemnized, c. 85, s. 39. The certificate will not be
issued, nor license granted by the superintendent till the
expiration of the seven days or twenty-one days after entry
of the notice ; the marriage may therefore be had imme-
diately, on production of the certificate or license. It is not
necessary that the minister should be present at a marriage
solemnized in a registered place of worship (c. 85, s. 20,
23) ; if he be present, he may, in addition to the forms re-
quired by s. 20, use any form and ceremony he pleases.
Possibly the various religious bodies may each agree on
some form of marriage service, to be adopted at discretion.
But the forms given in s. '2O should be introduced in an
early part of the service, so that the registrar present
may meet with no unnecessary delay in the completion o
his duties. No person can attend to forbid the marriage
at the time of its celebration, as that must be done by en-
try in the marriage notice book, kept by the superinten-
dent, or by entering a caveat with the superintendent, as
directed by e. 85, as. 9 and 13. But, slight as is the Dis-
senting minister's official responsibility under these Acts,
it is obvious that the frequency with which his advice will
be asked by members of his congregation, renders it of
great importance that he should acquaint himself minutely
with the proceedings necessary before marriage. He will,
perhaps, think it advisable to provide himself with printed
forms of the notice of marriage given by c. 85, schedule (A.)"

There is a copious index at the end, which greatly
facilitates reference to any point upon which informa-
tion may be required.