The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-06-11
From the Cleveland Herald, June I.
What IL the Truth

What is the Truth?
| This is an interesting question just now with
US in regard to the report of the Committee on
bills and overtures to the General Assembly on
the subject of marrying sisters daughter
We published an article saying that this Com
mittee did report that man might marry his
own niece, and still retain his standing in the
church. That article was read by some as say
ing that the Assembly had adopted the report,
and we subsequently complained that we were
not responsible for such careless reading, and
reiterated what we had before stated as to the
action of the Committee.
A communication appears this morning in
the Forest City, accusing us Of not only being
unwilling to correct an error, but of repeating
falsehood. This communication says the ques-
tion was, whether a man may marry the
daughter of his ,cife's sister?' This is the first
intimation from any quarter that we have heard
that we were in error in our original statement.
We gained our information from the Buffalo
COurier's report Of the doings Of the Conven-
ton the same thing appeared in the Buffalo
Express and the Buffalo Commercial had a
long and justly pungent article upon the sub
jcct.
Were We all mistaken? 1t is easy to aecer-
tain the fact, and just as easy for US to correct
our error, if one was made.
| From the same, June 2.
| Presbyterian IN. W General Assembly.
Our report of the doings of the Committee on
Bills and Overtures was correct, and we give
brief extracts from the proceedings of the AS
sembly, to show that the report found little ia
yor with that body ; in fact, before the subject
was disposed Of, the poor bantling of a report
was deserted by it's father, although the frater-
nifty was not denied
The report from the Committee on Bills and
Overtures on the subject Ofmarriage, was taken
up. The report was in reply to an Overture,
embracing two questions as follows:
First,-Is it lawful for church member to
marry the daughter of his sister?
Second, After such marriage is contracted,
can the person contracting it retain his stand
ing in the church?
A motion was made to indefinitely postpone
the report.
Mr. Hastings said that case had arisen in
the Presbytery which he in part represented,
where man had married his niece. 1t was
brought before the Presbytery, and it's action
was directly opposite from that proposed by the
bonored Chairman of the Committee on Bills
and Overtures. They had decided that such
marriages were unscrptural, as coming within
the prohibitions of the Mosaic Law.
DR.. Cox proceeded to discuss the scriptural
question involved in this question. He was not
in favor of man marrying his niece. He ne
yer was. He was not even in favor of a man
marrying his cousin. lie believed that all such
connections of nearness of kin should be avoid
ed. But there is no law beyond that which is
specially laid down in the Book. The marry
ing of a niece is not included in this prohibit
tiOn-in all the twelve specifications it is not
there. But the question is shall we legislate
where God has not legislated. 1t is question
of expedicncy merely. He would dehort al
ways from such relation. He cited case
which occurred in Connecticut-when an appli-
cation was made to several clergymen-among
whom was DR.. Hawkes-to marry a man to his
niece. They all refused and gave their reasons,
not that it was unlawful. but that they did not
like to do it. They las well as he, were opposed
to such marriages In his soul he had always
been opposed to all dangerous af1inities in this
relation. But he deprecated too much legsla-
ton on such subjects by the church. By leav-
ing to men freedom of vOlitiOn in such matters.
there is left with it the responsibility With
port.
Mr.. Monteith remarked that in Michigan
there is statute against marriages of this kind.
The MOderatOr-So there is in Ohio.
And it was remarked that SO there was in Sc
veral States.
DIR. Aiken said that though a member of the
Committee, he did not interpose a formal dis
sent to the report, bnt he did not wish to have
it understood that he was in favor of it, He
IN bot
fore the Assembly in this form that it might be
discussed and settled.
DIR. Cox remarked that DR.. Ross, of the Com
mittee occupied similar position.
Mr. Hastings moved to postpone the report.
for the purpose of taking up the following sub
stitutc, which he offered:
Resolved, That the first question on the
Overture in relation to the marriage of man
with his niece be answ cred in the negative such
marriage being evidently contrary to the teach
ing Of the Scriptures, and incestuous-sce Le-
viticus lS. 6, H. and Ii verses.
Resolved, THAT the second question in the
Overturcs be answered as follows, viz. In the
Judgment Ofthis Assembly such a connection as
Is contemplated by the overture, demands the
judicial action of the churches, and if not re-
pcnted of, should incur church censure
DR.. Cox moved that the whole subject be re-
ferred to select committee to report to the
next General Assembly.
He thought the subject one of paramount i'm
portance, and demanded more consideration
and better digested action than could be given
to it at this late hour of the session.
Rev. Charles Brown opposed the reference,
and spoke in favor of the adoption of the sub
stitute for the report.
Mr.. Specs offered a substitute for the substi-
tute declaring emphatically against the senti-
ments of the report, but afterwards withdrew it,
The substitute of Mr.. Hastings was then
adopted.
The FOREIGN NEws.-The Tribune says the
news brought by the Arctic is unusually varied
and Interesting, and gives the following synop-
sis:
Mrs. Stowe and her party have been present
at meeting of the British and Foreign Anti
Slavery Society. She was received with a tu-
mutt OF applause, the vast audience rising to
welcome her and the same on enthusiastic coron,o