The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-21 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
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riage to have;beeniimpliedly permitted in Levit. xviii. 18 and
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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, held between
A.D. 3§.5 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 priestsaints might not be disturbed, and re-
quired bishops, p and deacons to live apart from their
wives.
Fact 7. The Roman Catholic Church does not regard this
marriage as forbidden in Scripture.
En„
nowhere claims authority to
Fact 8. The Church of En
prohibit any marriage not contrary to Holy Scripture.
Fact 9. Neither the common nor the statute law of the
realm prohibits any marriage of kindred or affinity on Any
other principle than on its alleged contrariety to the law of
God.
Fact 10. Protestant Dissenters regard the prohibition of
this marriage as unscriptural and inexpedient, the deputies
of the three denominations having repeatedly petitioned Par-
liament for its removal.
Fact 11. This marriage may be lawailly celebrated in every
country in the world except England and Ireland, and one
canton of Switzerland.
Fact 12. This marriage was virtually permitted in this
country before 1835.
Fact 13. Neither in this nor in any othercountry has it been
shown that the permission of this marriage has leen at-
tended with injurious consequences.
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Fact 15. The Act of 1835 was au unjustifiable comprpmise,
the majorit of the House of Commons reluctantly consent-
ing to theyfUture prohibition of marriage with a
ion deceased
of all
wife's sister as the means of procuring the legalisat
past marriages of the kind.
Fact 16. The Bench of Bishops on that occasion consented
to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister previously
celebrated—a measure to which it was impossible they should
have assented had they believed the marriage contrary to the
Word of God.
Fact 17. The Parliament of 1835 purposely avoided touch-
ing on the question of what marriages ought to be prohibited,
reserving that important question for future consideration.
Fact 18. The Royal Commissioners on the Law of Marriage
declare that the Act of 1835 has not secured the respect or

obedience of society. •
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doing condemns the law which declares their marriage veld.
Fact 21. Twenty-one Spiritual Peers have declared it to b,
their opinion that therels no Scriptural prohibition of these
marriages.
Fact 22. Numerous clergymen of the Church of England
have petitioned for the removal of this restriction.
Fact 23. Eleven Deans, and 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 24. The principal persons hi the city of London, and
in almost every large town in the kingdom, have repeatedly
petitioned against the existing law.
Fact 25. Many persons of the highest distinction in both
Houses of Parliament have voted for this measure.
Fact 20. 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.