The daily gazette., 1881-01-12
THE STATE MARRIAGE LAWS


There was no meeting in the
Grace NJ. Il. church, on Monday, to
consider the advisability of amend
ing the marriage laws of this State.
Revs. j. III. Caldwell, T. l..
romkinson and two or three other
gentlemen called at the church, but
only TO find the gates bolted and the
doors locked.
The proposed amendments are as
follows:
First To repeal that part Of the
law requiring the giving of bond
and security.
Second TO reduce the cost of
licenses to one dollar or less.
Third To require the officiating
clergyman to make his return on the
back of the license or sign a blank
provided for the purpose.
Fourth To insert in the license
the words, "aud this shall be your
sufficient warrant"
Fifth To require the Clerk
issuing the marriage license to in-
sert the ages and color of the per-
sons to be married.
DR.. Caldwell received from Bishop
Becker, Of the Wilmington Diocese,
on Monday morning, the following
letter:
WILMINGTON, Jan. 8, 1881.
REV. DIR. caldwell, Dear Sir IL
have received your note, suggesting thai
the Cathlic clergy should be present, on
/ MnndaU tho sf "a
various denominations, about to meet in
Grace NJ. 4. church, in order 10 use
their influence TO have some change
made by the Legislature OF Delaware In
the scheme ot marriage licenses. The
laws of the Catholic church in reference
to marriage obviate any necessity for in
reference on our part. Those among
uur people who wish To be married, are
TO be called out in public, at the solemn
service Of the church, on three distinct
Sundays, unless TOR grave reasons, us
uslly hardly creditabIe 10 the parties
contracting, they are relieved by special
Dlspensation. In each and every such
case they must receive a State license
merely Tor civil purposes. We stand In
the matter Of marriage, so far as the
State or Republic is concerned, some
! where near your position Gas presume,
in reference to Baptism or the Lord,
supper.
Usually we do not come In contac
with State law. Such license TO gel
married as is issued Ly the State, like il
PERMISSION 10 be divorced, has with u,
precisely the same weight or authority
none al all. Since then no utility our ad
vantage could pos 81 Dly accrue TO us (ou
laws aud customs being fixed and pre-
mahent) by the proposed meeting,
must decline to unite or have and clerg,
TO JON in the matter, yet, thanking yot
personally for your kindness, | haS,
The pleasure To be very truly yours, &c
THOMAS A. BECKER,
Bishop, Wilmington.
From Bishop Lee of the Protestan
Episcopal church, he received the fol
lowing note
WILMINGTON, Jan. 8, 1881.-Rey
}. Ill. CALDWELL, Reverend and Dea
Sir Il am obliged TO you for your i'll
vilaLIon to attend, in Grace NJ. L
church, Oh the 10th instant, meetin,
for the purpose of procuring an amend
ment OF the marriage laws of the Stat
of Delaware. 1t will probably not b
convenient for me to be present, but
am decidedly favorable TO the object
Yours very truly,
ALFRED LEE.
Rev. Richard B. Cook, pastor OF tn
Second Baptist church, sent The FOL
lowing:
My DEAR DocToR IF possible,
will be present at the minist er's meet
ing on Monday. If | should not b
present, say tor me that am IN heart
sympathy with the movement.
Yours truly, RICHARD b. Cook.