The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-27 00:00:00

FACTS.

Fact 1. Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is no where
prohibited, whether expressly or impliedly, either in the Old
or New Testament.

Fact 2. Marriage with a wife'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
sacred oracles were given, have always understood this mar-
riage to havelbeetkimpliedly permitted in Levit. xviii., 18, and
set a special mark of approbation on such unions, by allowing
them to take place when there were young children within a
shorter interval after the ileatli of the wile than in ordinary
cases.

--feet 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, held 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 council, that
of Eliberis in Spain, composed of 19 Bishops. This council
also forbad tapers to be lighted in cemeteries in the day time,
that the spirits of the Saints might not be disturbed, and re-
quired bishops, priests, and deacons to live apart from their,
wives.
Fact 7. The Roman Catholic Church does not regard this
marriage as forbidden in Scripture.
Fact 8. The Church of England nowhere claims authority to
prohibit any marriage not contrary to Holy Scripture.
eot kindred or affinity n
Fact 9. any
the common nor the statute law of the
o rethalel
alleged contrariety to the law of
God.
Fact 10. Protestant Dissenters regard the prohibition of
pprrtnohei ipblietsthanany m
onarirti
this marriage as unsoriptural and inexpedient, the deputies
nr
of the three denominations having repeatedly petitioned Par-
liament for its removal.
and Ireland, and one
canton of Switzerland.
country in the world except England
Fact 11. This marriage may be lawcully celebrated in every
Fact 12. This marriage was virtually permitted in this
country before 1835.
Fact 13. Neither in this country has it been
shown that the permission of this marriage nor in any other
has been at-
tended with injurious consequences.
ag Eng
e in -
Fact 14. The absolute prohibition
of this marri
from the year 1835.
land is a recent innovation, dating only
the majority of the House of Commons reluctantly
d d
iage with a ecease
consent-
ing to the future prohibition of marr
the legalisation of all
wife's sister as the means of procuring
Fact 15. The Act of 1835 was an unjustifiable compr nise,
past marriages of the kind.
sister previously
to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's
should
celebrated—a measure to which it was impos
contrary to the
have assented had they believed the marriage
Fact 16, The Bench of Bishops on that occasion consented
Word of God.
Fact 17. The Parliament of 1835 purposely avoided
to be prohtouch-
ing on the question of 'what marriages ought
reserving that important question for future consideration
to
or
declare that the Act of 1835 has not secured the
Fact 13. The Royal Commissioners on the Law of Marrige
respect
obedience of society.
they are found in every town and neighbourhood in the king-
dom. Fact 19. Thousands of such marriages have been contracted;
persons as rightly married, and worthy
Fact 20. Society, almost without exception, regards such
doing condemns the law which declaces their marriage void
Fact 21. Twenty-one Spiritual Peers have declared it to be
their opinion that there Is no Scriptural prohibition of these
marriages.
Fact 22. Numerous clergymen of the Church of England
have petitioned for the removalof this restriction.
Fact 23. Eleven Deans, andof respect, and in so
more than 300 other clergymen
of the Established Church in Ireland, have expressed a deci-.
ded opinion that this marriage is not prohibited in Scripture.
Fact 21. The principal persons in the city of London, and
in almost every large town in the kingdom, have repeatedly
petitioned agninst the existing law.
Fact 25. Many persons of the highest distinction in both
Houses of Parliament have voted for this measure.
Fact 26. The House of Commons, in 31 divisions, have voted
for repealing the existing- law.
Fact 27. Three hundred and forty-six members of the late
House of Commons voted for legalising marriage with a de'
ceased wife's sister.

OPINIONS.
"We consider that the feeling against these marriages is in
a great measure founded rather on a vague and uninformed
assumption that they are prohibited by ,God's word, than on
a mature examination either.of the Scriptures or the law of
the Church." "We do not find that the persons who con-
tract these marriages, and the relations and friends who ap-
prove them, have a less strong sepse than others of religious
and moral obligation, or are marked by laxity of conduct."
"These marriages will take place when a concurrence of cir-
cumstances give rise to mutual attachment ; they are not de-
pendent on le7islation."—Report of Royal Commissioners,
signed by 11
':;;shop of Lichfield, Mr. Stuart Wortley, Dr.
Lushinzton, ➢ir. Blake, Justice Williams, and Lord Advocate
Rutherfurd...

--;;It seems to be established and admitted, that the moral
feeling of the community at large is not with this law—that
the law, in fact, is not obeyed, and That a great number ofper
sons, not considering themselves tocommit any moral offence,
do contract marriages which the law prohibits. That is not