Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1910-06-18
OPPOSED new LAW
Minister Framed Report and Questions
Whether Officials viii Exercise Same
Care as the Cloth

An unexpected adverse report was
made by one of the clergymen at the
General Assembly on the new marriage
license law of this State. The law doe;
not go into effect until July, but th,
cleigymsns report questioned whether
municipal clerks and other civil officials
will take as much care ill ascertainins
if parties are legally qualified to marry
as do the ministers of the Gospel.
The Newark Evening News makes
this comment on the minister's unfavor-
able report:
TO this it may be replied that while
some ministers have been very careful
others seem at times to have exercised
less care than any municipal clerk thus
far known. They have established un-
enviable regulations as marrying par
Sons; and these men have, in no small
degree compelled the enactment of the
marriage license law.
In the next place, the report goes on
to say, the presentation of a license to a
minister will legally justify a marriage
ceremony, and clergymen will grow care
less and lax in investigating the genuine
ness of the license and the right of the
parties to marry. This is an admission
that no clergyman ought to make Oh be
half of his ministerial brethren If they,
as body, will neglect an obvious duty
in a matter of such great importance,
they ought not to be intrusted with such
functions. The law was intended to help
them, not to relieve them of moral and
religious obligation"
The State Board of Health has circu-
lated q small pamphlet, which shows
that the law is not aimed so much at
careless or mercenary clergymen as at
justices OF the peace and other officials
who have been Indifferent as to whether
cal9ffe TO marriage were minors OF
nuelo1 Two sections OF the new act
f. 5hal not marry any of his an
est t6 descendants, or his sister, or
re- er OF his brother or sister, or
d E0f his father or mother, whe
4 EIF coiiateral kindred be of the
N NJ Ialf blood. A woman shall not
nd OF her ancestors or descen-
dan Her brother, or the son of her
lbrf sister, or the brother of her
fs5 other, whether such collateral
q of the whole or half blood.
4HHB i'll violation OF any of the
NJ 57f1 jHoyisions shall be absolutely
efter the first day of July,
ID one thousand nine hun
sz = sslt shall be necessary for
S$ ding to be married within
{d first obtain marriage
h 21e sdelver the same to the
&gistrate or person who :
before the proposed marriage
Htdly performed; provided,
The marriage is to be performed
fbefore any religious society, in
l1l4b or organization, or any officer
|e6f 1.-the Female party to the pro
h1Hfxiaeeis resident i'll any city,
8#n or other municipality of
x4Ich license shall be obtained
registrar ofvital statistics, if
fssleh officer, and if not, then
Sr1erk Of such city, borough,
bther municipality wherein such
LES; or if the female party to
osed marriage is non resident
State, such license shall be OBJ
om the registrar of vital statist
here be such officer, and if not.
IN the clerk of such city, bor-
5{Eu or other municipality where
&party to the proposed mar
#BB. If both or either of the
tntM proposed marriage are resi-
al township of this State, such
shall be obtained from the reg
of vital statistics, if there be such
aud vi not, then from the assessor
fs D the township. If both of.
kgties to the proposed marriage are
Hdents of the State, such license
be obtained, if the proposed cere-
is to be performed within any
borough, town or other municipality
is State, from the registrar of vital
sites, if there be such officer, and #
then from the clerk of such city,
ugh, town or other municipality;
IF within any township of this State
5aidlieense shall be obtained from the
strar of vital statistic, if there be
officer, and if not, then from the
ssor of taxes of the said township;
ided, no license to marry shall be
led when either Of the contracting
ies, at the time of making the APP
atioB, is under the influence of in
icating liquor or narcotic drug, or Is
imbecile, epileptic, or of unsound
Ia, nor shall any such license be is
to any person who is or has been an
iate of any insane asylum or institu-
= b for INDECENT persons, unless it sat
ectorily appears that such person has
fn discharged from such asylum or in
tution.