The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-07-25

The Detroit Free Press of July 20, contains
the following concerning marriages, and how
the law thereof is violated by Clergymsn and
Justices of the Peace neglecting to record them
with the County Clerk:
There is much and justly indignant COM
plant that persons authorized by law to SOL
emnlze marriage constantly violate the plain
provision Of the law requiring them to report
all marriages in which they are officially inter-
ested to the County Clerk within ninety days
after the ceremony. When the present Clerk
OF Wayne County went into Office he found
that hundreds of marriages had never been re-
ported. 1t was no fault of his predecessors
and he only made the discovery when upon re-
ceipt OF letters or personal application for GER
tilted copies OF marriages, he found himself
unable to comply for want OF the necessary
data.
lie notified every minister and Justice Of the
Peace in his jurisdiction that they must comply
With the Law, and, in order to facilitate the
business forwarded the necessary blanks and
a copy Of the marriage laws to each one Of
them. That plan bore little or no fruit, and he
employed agents to personally notify all inter-
ested persons (clergymen and Justices Of the
Peace). That scheme also proved practically
barren Of results, though few clergymen re-
sponded. 1t Is an amazing fact-and curious
commentary on clerical disregard Of law that
one OF the oldest and best known clergymen in
Detroit had utterly neglected to report his
marriages during period OF ten years. An
other was four years behind, and many do not
appear on the record at all.
The law bearing on this subject is as fol-
lows
Every justice OF the peace, minister OF the
gospel, and all other persons authorized by the
laws OF this State to solemnize marriages y
who shall neglect or refuse to make q record o.
such marriages or to deliver to the County
Clerk OF the county in which the marriage took
place, a certified copy Of such record "
shall be deemed guilty Of misdemeanor, and
upon convection thereof shall be punished by
fine not exceeding 800, and IN default Of pay
Ing the same shall be imprisoned in the county
Jail OF the county in which such conviction shall
be had, until said fine be paid, but not to ex-
coed the period of ninety days.
In view OF the care which has been taken to
acluaint these gentlemen with the law, it is a
fair presumption that they are not in ignorance
Of their duty under it, and it must follow that
many of them are willfuIly guilty of very
serious dereliction. The record shows that
Justices Of the Peace generally comply with
the law, leaving the principal burden of neglect
on the clergy.
Aside from the inconvenience Of having i'm
perfect records for reference where certified
copies Of marriage certificates are required for
ordinary purposes, this inexcusable neglect
PLAYS havoc with very necessary statistics and
in all probability other evils dow from it. The
time has come when the law should be enforced
Vigorously. II prosecutions are necessary as
warning examples let the law officers set the
proper machinery in motion. The law is un-
mistakable and Its dignity should be asserted.