The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-05

From tile Manchester Guardian, oct. 2t]
Mr.. Name has done o new service To the cause or
liberation In India. There are large classes like the
Bramhos, willing enough 10 give up idoilry but not
prepared for Christianity, while there are many
cases "a IN Burnah, In which HndoOs intermarry
with ruddhsts as they suppose; out The union is not
legitimate. ait. Maine has just proposed brief mea-
sure to the Calcutta Legislature, under which all
Cnrstan natives who oolect TO the religious rfs
which constitute smarriage according u iiilndoo''
Mussuman, Buddhist, PaTce aud Jewish civil law
may be married before one OF the civil registrars
just ike Christian Dissenters only they must keep
to one vile and marry within certain degrees
wlie they will be allowed right OF divorce: ana
the girl must DC not less than fourteen wears of
age and the man not ABOVE The age OF eighteen
IL The girl Is OF tue age u eighteen she NAV marry
without her fathers consent. The affirmation must
be 'iD the presence OF Almighty Cod aud may be
follow cd by any rites the parties CHOOSE to foI ow
MI Maine remarked that the BIZ had been prenared
al the Instance OF q sect Of wArh the orir,n ana
general character We're sobably known more or
less 10 the Louncii-the Brahmos, IL appeared that
since its foundation oy bannohua Roy the sect had
gone through several phases Of re.igious feeling
or late It's members had become unwtlnnp 10 con-
tract marriages or 10 allow Their children to contract
marriages With the fises pracu sed among orthodox
Hindoos ana these marriages were, Mr.. Mane be.
heved, ceiebratCd according 20 a reformed ritual
arranged by the Brahnos themselves. some doubt
however having suggested Itself as to the legal IA.
mary OF these marriages the Br1hmos submitted Il
case Tor the opinion % Tie learned Advocate Gen.
era, OF tne government Of India. Mr.. COVE
tages not having been celebrated with Hin.
doc or Maeometan rites OF orthodox regularity ana
not conforming 10 the procedure presciiD by any
law, or 70 the usages Of any recognized religion,
were Invalid, and the offspring OF them were accord
ingY illelitmate. the Branmos, therefore through
native gentleman whom they acknowledge as
their reprcsentatlve-Bab Keshah Chunder Seln--
applied 10 the government OF India Tor relief Such
reiiei Mr. Maine, apprehended, must be granted. IL
was not the policy OF The queens government In
india 10 refuse the power OF marriage TO any OF her
haJesty's subjects, and he doubted whether even
Orthodox Hindnos would wish 10 deny 20 the Brah
mos legal privilege fully enjoyed by Santals and
sonds. some II Qht difficulty had occurred In the
preparation OF the measure. When rcefin any mat
ter connected with religion was sought by any sect or
BODY OF tue natives OF India, and when case for
such leiet was established. he held IL 10 be good
policy TO conhne the relief 10 the particular sect or
bouy making application. Considering The unknown
depths OF native feeling these s1Decta II bet
YER not ogenerale Beyond the immediate necessity
anu hence Mr.. Maine thought the policy which
nned the relief OF the Native Converts Marriage Dis.
solution act 10 Christians sound, although there were
uouUtiess her classes In the same position. But
after much conversation with the native gentleman
above referred to, Dir. Maine had convinced himself
thdt the creed OF the Brahuos lacked stability. inc
process by which the sect was formed might be In.
creaslny IN activity. but there seemed also to be n
growing usincinati0n TO accept any set OF common
enets. . would be dtiicut FOR legal purposes TO
define BFaAho anu u no definition were given
there might shortly be petitions for relief by persons
Who were ~ the same legal position az the present
applicant, nut who declared that they could not
conscentiously call themselves Brahulos Hence
the Dill had been drawn with some degree Of gene.
raliy. The progress, observes the Times Calcutta
correspondent, that Is slowly undermining Hndoo.
ism II further seen In such facts az these tho Noor
ooUbsaf contains an article Oh the excesses Of na-
Tive pgrIiages Ia regard " tbe plQTalty OF wives