The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-23
MARRIAGES ARE Vain.
Catholic Church Wins Its Con,ent,o,
In the Marriage Question.

III the M"rrtnKe Question.
Havana Post.
For several months past the churches. mar
ticulariy the Catholic church. have hecn INV
Ing TO secure a modification NJ the marria..
uecIec VI Military Governor Brooke when
made II necessary in every Instance 10 ,nSar1
30 the form OF "a civil marriage by a magis
ratt, whether church marriage was AZ
sired or not special efforts toward the renesI
Or ths decree or its radical modification hav-
ing peen made by Bishop Sbaretu and his
ooadjLtors, who presented very larea na,i9
ton to Governor Wood ON this subieet about
three months ago. and who have been nurN
suing IL zealousiy from that time tin now
nv iFolestaht churches have also urgently
plead Tor the recognition of church or min
isterlal marriages. and there will he yrea,
satisfaction as IL is read today that the nil
tary governor has issued a modifying derrea
covering the case. The new law is as fol-
l. Hereafter marriages may be clyn or 70.
ties par
=. Marriage, so far as its validity in law
IS concerned. continues to be n civil con-
tract. to which the consent Of the nortIas
capable in law of making the contract is
essential.
8. Religious marriages solemnized as here.
IN provided shall have the same force ana
eject as civil marriages
q duly ordained clergyman or minister
| Oh any religion may perform the marriage
ceremony, provided that the contracting mar
ties may legally contract marriage, and pro-
ylded That they solemnly declare in the pres
ehce Oh the clergyman or minister and of the
attendiDe witnesses that they take each other
as husband wife. o''ier
o.. Two witnesses OF age must be present
az az, .ne ceremony and must, together with the
olloiating clergyman or minister sign the
eertihcates herein provided for.
0. BEFORE solemnizing q marriage the cler
symah or minister must unless there has
peen a previous civil marriage, be furnished
with the evidence as to the age of the con-
tractns parties, required by article Sc OF
the clNil. code, as amended by order No a.
Iof January 26, 1900 a certificate signed by
the contracting parties that they are free to
contract marriage, having no living husband
OF wife, and the parental permission, or the
ulspensauon, when necessary under the pro-
visions Of the civil code now in force
Z" Inc clergyman or minister shall at the
time cf performing the cermony, If there has
been no previous civil marriage. make a GER
tifcate showing:
(a) The names, surnames. age color, oocu-
patton, domicile or residence of the contract
Ing parties.
OBJ The names, surnames, occupation.
domicile or residence Of the parents of the
contracting parties or such part OF this in
formation as can be Ascertained.
tcl The date and place of the performance
OF the ceremony of marriage and the state
ment that such marriage was performed In
the presence OF the subscribing witnesses,
by the subscribing clergyman or minister
who shall add the name Of his church or
parish.
g. Tho certificate prescribed In the fore
going paragraph shall be filed by the offic!at-
Ing clergyman or minister in the Office of the
civil register OF the municipality where the
ceremony was performed, together with the
evidence and certificates required by article
VI Of this order within twenty days from
the date of the marriage. and proper record
shall thereupon be made on the civil register
n mr. boil he ett IL.
man or minister showing the date OF such
filing,
g. Any person other than duly Ordained
clergyman or minister or the proper civil
authority who shall perform or attempt to
perform the ceremony of marriage shall be
deemed guilty of deito and punished by
imprisorn ent for not less than one nor more
than five years.
10. Any clergyman or minister who. hav-
ing celebrated religious marriage as herein
provided, where there has been no previous
civil marriage, fails to file the certificates
and proofs as provided for by paragraphs VII
aud VIII of this order shall be tried, aud If
found guilty. fined sl0o, or imprisoned from
tnlrty to ninety days by the proper judge Of
his domicile.
II. Any custodian of civil register who
refuscc to receive and file and record the
certificates and evidences as herein provided
for, or who refuses in a proper case, to
give memorandum mentioned in the foregoing
paragraph, must state his reasons in writing
1Of sucu retusal, ana may at the peutlOn OF
any party interested be cited before the judge
OF instruction of the district who must i'm
medately order, In a proper case. that the
records be made and the memorandum given,
and the custodian of the civil register VIII
be condemned to pay the costs Of the applica-
ton.
~ Nothing In this order shall affect or
modify the provisions of codes, laws DEGREES
or orders concerning the method of perform
ing civil marriage. All provisions Of codes,
laws or DEGREES in conflict with this order are
hereby repealed and revoked.