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 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 havetbeeniimpliedly permitted in Levit. xviii., 18, and
set a special mark of approbation on suchunions, by allowing
them to take place when there were young children within a
shorter interval after the death of the wile 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, 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,
tint the spirits priests, Saints 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.
Fact 8. The Church of England nowhere claims authority to
prohibit any marriage not contrary to Holy Scripture.
Fact 9. Neither the common nor the statute law of the.
realm ed kindred
contrariety r
tto affinity
theolna
wany
f
other p
God. prfnoeihipblietsthaiainy
on marriage of
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 law'ully celebrated in every
country in the world except England and Ireland, and one
canton of Switzerland.
Fact 12. This marriage was virtually p
country before 1835.ermitted in this
Fact 13. Neither in this nor in any other country has it been
shown that the permission of this marriage has been at-
tended with injurious consequences.
ear 1835. Fact 14. The absolute prohibition of this marriage in Eng-
land is a recent innovation, dating only from theyg
remise
Fact 15. The Act of 1835 was an unjustifiable comp
the majority of the House of Commons reluctantly consent-
ing to the future prohibition of marriage with a deceasell
wile's sister as the means of procuring the legalisation of a
past marriages of the kind.
Fact 16. The Bench of Bishops on that occasion
to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister previously
consiented_
celebrated—a measure to which it was impossible they shoulde
have assented had they believed the marriage contrary to th
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.
Fact 19. Thousands of such marriages have been contracted;
they are found in every town and neighbourhood in the king-
dom.
Fact 20. Society, almost without exception, regards such
persons as rightly married, and worthy of respect, and in so
doing condemns the law which declares their marriage void.
Fact 21. Twenty-one Spiritual Peers have declared it to ba
their opinion that there is 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 in the city of London, and
in almost every large town in the kingdom, have repeatedly
petitioned against the misting 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.