Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-01-21
DITORCES IN CHURCHES.
DISTINCTION BETWEEN CIVIL AND
ECCLESIASTICAL AGE
RULES OF THE CHURCHES IN RE-
GARD TO MARRYING DIVORCED
PERSONS
Prom The Toledo Commercial

PERSONS.
Prom the Toledo Commercial.
Recent events having made the re. m ar
risge Of divorced people so prominent and
excited NO much discussion OF the duties
OF ministers of the gospel In that connec-
ton, it may he proper to refer to tbs mat
ter again, aud inquire both as to the prac-
tice and the authority Of the clergy in the
premises. We deem II entirely safe TO say,
that Mr.. Beecher stands by No means alone
in the matter OF re-marrying divorced par
ties. On the contrary, We are satisfied
from observation, that great and extended
oOseness exists among the clergy of more
than one denomination. We are assured
that many of these treat the marriage GER
emory purely a. civil contract, and
hence cansider themselves Al. liberty TO
perform ii TOT anybody entitled % be mar
ried under the statute. Indeed, ministers
have told rs this was the fact. II Is not
probable that intelligent persons could ar
rive at such conclusion by sny course Of
reasoning, but must assume It, without re-
Election. A moments thought would show,
that while the msgistrate scfs only as civil
officer, aiding la the consummation by q
civil contract, the clergyman acts 10 two
fold capacity Of civil and spiritual agent
attestiDg the agreement Of the parties IN
| der the law, aud sanctioning and sealing 1t
| in the name Of the Almighty. The one is
answerable for the manner In which he dis
charges his II ust TO the State Alono, while
no is responsible both 10 the State and TO
the Church. From this il will be seen that
while the magistrate is bourtf TO look only
to the law for direction, the clergyman
must look 10 the statute and also to the To-
| quirements of his commission as q minister
/ Il 70 "a
| whenever called upon by parties author
ICED by law to marry the other is allowed
to exercise his own discretion In each case
presented. A clergyman may marry whom
| he pleases or no one but the magistrate
has no such option. The reason Tor thin
| distinction is found in the difference In the
/ authority OF the two. Toe civil Officer
merely declares the union TO have been ef.
fecled according TO the laws OF msn-ths
clergyman according TO the laws Of Goo
and man. The one looks to the statute q
decide any question that may arise, while
the other looks to that, and TO the Bible
aud the regulations OF bis Church. Viii
tins understanding Of the matter, II will b
profitable TO inquire into the rules Of th'
different religious denominations 10 this re-
spect. Amer some inquiry, We have ascer
tanned the regulations Of the denomina
ions named below to Re substantially q
saI,",,l
pr,,..,.n, Fni.con.l-No ninister IA Al
S ~ -ai.,,,1;,s n,a,,,mopv IN snv cas-
49, ~ 49, !. /. divorcsd hnshand or VIII
| Of either marty still living; but this Is no
,, a. innocent nsrtv in a divorc
-. sdni,..ry az 10 nersons once diyorre
.L;na 20 10 nni,.s again.
Ca,hel,o Chnrch-DiSorca. excert "A 4
nS 800 No, recoSni1sa in spv cs.s
80 Siv.'rcsd nsrty 40 ha rsmsrrie
- ~. o,bar a. hvins
pH.'h'',er,sn Niece racognix.d r.,
a,t, - an. ;nrccsnt nsrSy 10 he Il
80 70 rsn,srry We nnder.tsnd this !,
10 ,ho no,ition If the RENTED church :
!, w. ar ,he recent branches. we thin
NO, ~ not All other Presbyterian chnrct
a.. 40 the SANE rnle
Ma,haS;st- Snhsranti. MS The sans a.. Al
=, o--'Ss,.rs"D,
.,ioa.i Thu dsnomin.,,oo Ia,
r,on snthoritv excent the bihl,
'us ~ narats chnrch determinea sueh ma
s"e I so.;,ssIS nnSAr tha ADVICE aud couns,
y, a.Sstions, hnt va think that ther
IiuIs difIarenoa in practice In 10. the rul
If Prsshytsrisn and Methodist church,
n,iny Inc one followed.
"a n,ist~IJka the Consrera tionalists th
R,n,i.ts nave no ec,lssiastical authoril,
a.ch church drterminine ali questions (,
fussIc The nraetice. however. IA substal
JsIiv ,ha sa,ne a. that OF the three Drece,
! ing DENOMINATIONS, the Bible rule being Il