Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-15
TO TEACH YOUNG
TO MARRY RIGHT.
Episcopal Clergy Of Neu York
Favor Health Certificates
Seek Way to Begin.

New York. May l2-Epscopal clergy
the biggest churches, want their church
and the State laws to require health
certificates for marriage; and they havo
voted six to one to have tho church
take hold of the task Of encouraging
young people to wed.
Just how the church should 60 about
1t most of them confess they do not
know. Many Of the oue-sevcnth who
Iopposed the step said that they did SO
only because they thought IT imprac-
tlcablc.
The step is the most al, need in social
service that any body of clergy has
yet advised, 1t was said yesterday Tho
great majority who have voted for it
are SO far able to say only that they
would make it church work TO bring
persons together with marriage as the
aim and have the church give instruc-
ton to make wcdlock happy, productive
and permanent. \ health certificate Is
one of the safeguards they throw about
their marriage business.
To the social service commission of the
| New York diocese has been turned over
| the Job of finding out how the Episcopal
! ians shall undertake marriage MAKING
The commission sent out yesterday to al
Episcopal ministers and to many others
| questions on the subject. The secretary
Of the commission, the Rev. Charles Is
| Gilbert, 40 Lafayette place says ne -
anxious to get all the views he can as 10
how the ministers may start the Ne"
work.
secretary Gilbert says in his request for
t., 4. al
with matters Of sex calls for the utmost
wisdom and caution. Many question tha
wisdom of any treatment other than by
parents But vice is working fearful
havoc upon that very purity which 1t is
the function of the church to conserve.
Is there nothing we can do?'
r Fulton CUTTING president of the So
cietv for improving the Condition of tha
poor ia quoted in Mr.. CHlbcrt's circular
a. follows:
.The church should directly teach its
maturing girls and boys the wisdom Of
> we'll considered marriage when under
taken as a Divine ordinance. It should
provide instruction in the ethics of mar
riage. It's obligations, responsibilities and
privileges and in the practice Of domes-
tic economy.
ono doubt there are respected women
in every church who car give girls the
best advice Ia the principles Of married
life Our hoys need TO have k.ndled IN
them ch!valroua respect 70" women
and 20 ba laugh. to ideaLze ~ vie. They
nust DC taught how much ere realization
OF the dream OF domestic happiness de-
Ponds upon the recognition Of their own
responsibility for i.
III the church were doing its duty IN
. this training might Il ':ct sc justified IN
, providing opportunities for young people
: to become acquainted with one anothe:
o and, without entering upon the danger
. GUS expedIent Of matchmaking, at least
encourage tbs morally hcalthfu asso-
+, ciation OF virtuous young mon and
q women.
"A practical pursuit Of 3uch cam
r. paign would include the circulation OF
!, Instructive publications dealing with al
subjects that. II understood and prsc-
: tised, would 60 70 rlaks domestic hfe
: happy. The information might not in
=, clude sex. That should hardly be at
. tempted by any save parents. That care,
:. fully selected literature should DO pro,
vided by the church for parenta! use an!
its reading and study recommended EN-
fully persuaded"