The copper era., 1907-12-05
Must Sign Contracts.

Only SuCn engagements IO mdTIy dS are in writing signed by both parties and witnesses, will have canonical standing in the Catholic Church after next Easter, according to decree promulgated by Plus X.
 These solemn engagements, called sponsalia, will have almost the same dignity as actual marriages, and to be released from the obligations so assumed either party will have to ob- tain a special dispensation.
 It is the wish of the pope to invest the idea of matrimony with deeper sacredness than it now has in these days of frequent and easy divorce, and in order to accomplish this, the new decree was framed. By its terms an ancient and very simple church law has been abrogated.
 The decree reads in part:
 ''It has been requested by the bishops of Europe and other parts of the world that some provisions be made to avoid complications arising out of sponsalia: that is, mutual promises to marry, privately under taken.
 "Past experiences teaches how many troubles result from such pri. vate sponsalia, namely: A lax atti- tude toward matrimony, the decep. tion of young girls, interminable quarrels and law suits"
 Then, after an extensive preamble recountiug the Holy Fathers long consideration of the problem and the counsel and advice he sought, comes the decree:
 ''Only such sponsalia shall be held valid and have canonical standing a: are contracted in writing, signed by the parties concerned and either their pastor, the bishop, or two wit nesses.
 'If one or the other party be UT able to write, that fact shall he noted in the writing, and another witness must be added who shall sign with the pastor, bishop, or two witnesses, a. before stated.
 'Not only that priest presiding ir parish canonically established shall be deemed 2 pastor, but, also priests in such localities where nt canonical parish exists; also priests to whom has been consigned the cart of souls in defined territories anC who take rank as a pastor; als' priests in mission territories, wht have been appointed by the moder ator of the mission, or bishop, fo the care of souls general in that ter ritory."
 At present the church recognize engagements to marry entered int, verbally by young people in tn course of a private conversation But after Easter such engagement will not be held as binding.
 Heretofore, if parties who hat promised each other to marry, subse quently lived together as man ant wife, their act was recognized by tn, church as a marriage, but that vii be the case no longer after Easter unless the sponsalia were in writing signed and witnessed according to decree before mentioned.
 These marriages, through sponsalia are analogous to the common la1 marriages recognized by America civil courts. They always have bee and until Easter will be considere marriages, because the church hold that the intentions of the partie must have been good.
 However such marriages have bee invalid in parishes and 3iioceses wher 4,afsat Fla trTiiacIliiai regulations of tn council of Trent, promulgated shortl after Martin Luther's day, have bee published. These regulations provid that no marriage shall be held c deemed valid unless performed b the pastor or some priest acting wit the consent either of the pastor c the bishop.
 Under the regulations of the cour cil of Trent, the vagabundi, or wal dering persons of the Catholic faitl with no fixed abode, cannot marr without first acquiring a residence some parish. What it takes to a, quire d residence is left largely the conscience and discretion of tn pastor.