The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-03
Marriages..

Marriages.
The statistics of the marriages in the city
from 1850 TO the present year afford an in-
tcrcstlug subject of study. In 1850 the
number of marriages was 4,0ss. Then II
fell off greatly during the four years of
the war; running from about twenty
eight hundred to about thirty-two hum
drcd year After the war there was
great increase in the reported marriages,
1866 showing 1872, ana 1861 the large num-
Der of 1913, while in 1860 they reached
s,G9j, or more than double the number in
1860. From 1863 up TO 1874 the number of
marriages averaged between eight and nine
thousand In 1875 they fell of to 1866, and
last year they got down to 1909 The late
decline in marriages seems to have sympa-
thizcd with the decline III business pros
perity. The number is not only positively
less than it was three or four years ago,
but also comparatively to the population
OF the city II is very significantly reduced.
But ii is not safe to 90 very far in gener-
alzution on these statistics. Before 1866
the returns of marriages were less COM
plete than they hive been since. In that
year the Metropolitan Board of Health
was established, and the first real and sys-
tcmatic attempt was made Mt arriving ut
an approximation OF the number of mar
riages and births in the city. The obtain
ing of these returns from priests and min
listers has always been attended with u
good deal Of difficulty. The Roman Cath
Ollie priests are particularly avcrsc to
making them, since they regard
marriage rs "a sacrament of the
church and something with which
the civil authorities have nothing to do. \
few years ago the Health Board undertook
to stimulate the clergy to the making of
returns by beginning suits against known
delinqucnts. These suits were not pressed
TO penalty. but they had the effect de-
sired of materially increasing the marriage
returns. However, the number of mar
riages now reported cannot be taken as all
Of those contracted. Probably one-third
or one-quarter of the whole escape the
attention of the authorities.
II is well worth thinking about whether
the security of property aud public morals
| would not bc benefited by the enactment
of II law requiring that every marriage
should he registered 10y proper public Off
GERS to make it legally valid. 1t is
now contemplated TO introduce n
hill into the present Legislature to facili-
tate the gathering of marriage and birth
returns. for the statistics of births are even
more detective than those of marriages.
The bin will only 20 SO far rs to establish II
corps of skilled canvassers, after the Bos-
ton plan. TO collect from ministers the re-
turns OF the marriages they have solem-
| nized. Though marriage is n civil con-
| truct, which may affect large property in
terests, and deeply concerns the welfare of
| the present and future general iona, ms the
law is now, any man who calls himself a
| minister may tie the knot: aud there may
be no practicable means of getting Il re-
turn of the marriage which can be record
| ed for reference. People are constantly
| losing their marriage certificates. or may
| never have got any certificate. The con-
sequence, i'll the case of legal proceedings.
where the marriage has to be proved. is
| great annoyance, and sometimes hardship.
though our law does hold that the mere
fact of the acknowledgment by man of u
woman Us his wife constitutes the right, on
| her part, TO claim marriage. When mar
riagc contracted here requires to be proved
in Europe, much difficulty occurs where
there Is no Official certificate issued by the
public authorities. The European magis-
trato knows nothing OF the power to marry
n couple held by minister who may have
furnished the certificate produced.
The trouble Is that the ministers who
perform marriages are not officers OF the
law They are apt To move about from
city to city. They may be careless men,
or they may have other reasons for not re-
turning II marriage. Yet IN performing
the marriage they do or" Of the most inn
port ant aud far-reachiug of public acts
about which every safeguard should be
thrown. The desire of the vast maiOrlt y
of people for Il religious ceremony Of mar
rage should, Of course, be regarded, but
that ceremony nerd not interfere with ol
prevent the purely civil rec prd Of the con
tract Nothing, however. should be done
to put obstacles in the way OF people.
marrying. The road to that should b,
made easy. Every dining should facilitate
.ie carrying our ~ The good resolution q
man makes when he decides 10 take Il
| him WIFE.