The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-07
ORR MARRIAGE LAWS.

The ineffatle Journal IL, we believe, TO
be held chiefly responsible fer the now
quite generally prevalent idea that the
revised statutes make a radical change In
| our marriage laws, and for further arous-
ing a fear that tomeway or somehow the
Legality OF marriages performed in this
State may be called in question unless
those authorized 10 solemnize them are
first qualified by a red-tape process OF reg
istration. A later n more alarming So
| called discovery was that there is, after all,
nothing new about the law referred to,
and accordingly the legality of marriages
| performed in this State during the last 40
years may be called in question.
We, ourselves, confess to having written
a few lines designed to treat this techni-
cality somewhat ~fippantly, but which
we are now assured may have bad the re-
suit of exciting apprehension among not a
few persons that serves to remind Us that
the sacred ceremony OF marriage, like
the grave and religion, are hazardous
subjects OF humor.
The other day we reprinted an article
from our esteemed contemporary, the New
York Mail and Express, wherein the edi-
torial writer INDUCED in considerable fun
at the expense of the seem ng complica-
tion that had been "discovered" because
clergymen who have not registered ac-
cording TO law had joined SO many of us
In wedlock. From certain indications we
have been made to feel that this and sim
liar articl S may have had a grain Of
truth in them, and so may have been
taken more seriously than was intended,
and that not a few persons hereabouts
may be really in doutt as to the validity
of their marriages-the technical validity,
at any rate. On this account we feel it
desirable to call a halt and to have a full
explanation.
Briefly, there is not, nor has there
been, warrant In law or fact for any APP
pTehension as to the real or technical
validity of any marriages performed in
this State. Whether clergymen or others
authorized comply with the requirements
of registration or not the marriages are
all right. They ''go'' as they always
have zone. There is no ground for APP
prehensiou, as to that.
frc~ provision that rs responsible for
this mild sensation IL in the revised stat
utes that went into force on Saturday
last, Section 6 and Section 10 of Chapter
191 "Of Marriages." Section 6 reads as
follows:
Amy minister or elder OF any religious do
nominations, who shall DO domiciled in the
State, and who shall have registered his rssi-
dence. the name OF the parish with which he
Is OF was last associated, IL any, the name OF
the religious denomination to which no be-
!opgs. in tha oileo of the town clerk OF the
town in which ho resides (but in tho city Of
Providence in the office Of tho registrar of
births. deaths and marriages.. in a book to
DO provided for that purpose by said town or
city. and shall have subscribed his nam
thereto. may obtain a license from such town
or city clerk or registrar to join persons In
marriage In this State. The fee for such
license shall he 81"
Now 1t Ia. plain enough from Section 6
that only ~clergymen that are licensed may
perform marriage. That this was the I'M
Outstanding OF the trainers OF that alarm
ing section is made further clear by lis
marginal reference which reads, "lioense
necessary to enable ministers or elders to
join persons in marriage" Section 10 Of
the same chapter further provides that any
minister, elder, justice who shall join
persons In marriage without first receiv-
ing the certified copy required by this
chapter shall Re imprisoned not exceed
ing six months and be fined not exceed
ing $1,000.
Nevertheless, there need be no apprehen-
sion about this matter. Our legislators
have placed no block in the way of marry
ing, nor Rave they tangled up the cere-
mony with so much red tape law that 1t
is beyond the comprehension OF the pain
people, and threatens the sanctity and
security of the marriage VOW. BY no
means, although there seems to have been
a bungle. Section % Of this same chapter
carries with it the saving grace and u
marriages are not to be impeached for no
better reason than hat some innocent
clergyman has n eglected to register and