Evening journal., 1915-02-15
N. {. Preachers FOR.
new MARRIAGE Law
Want Act That Will Make
License Effective as
Soon as Issued
WOULD REQUIRE
SEVEN DAYS NOTICE

The Wilmington NJ. E. Preachers As
sociation. in session this morning,
went on record unanimously as favoring
a change in the present marriage laws
of the State. 1t was explained that the
amended law as outlined and endorsed
was not the one now before the Legis-
lature, although no time limit on the
use of marriage licenses after their is
suance appears in the proposed act. One
section of the proposed bill requires
seven days notice in writing by per-
sons before the issuance Of any marriage
license
The subject was brought before the
meeting by Dr. Vaughan S. Collins, and
after much discussion DR.. Collins DR..
George Edward Reed, tine Rev. S. NJ. Nor
gan, the Rev. W: J.. S. Murray and the
Rev. G. T. Anderson We're appointed a
committee to urge the passage of the
proposed law.
The resolution as adopted follows:
Whereas. The present marriage
laws of the State are so crudely
formed that they work useless
hardship to law-abding citizens
of our State. and are a constant
source Of menace to every min
isters of the Gospel in the State
because it is impossible for a
minister TO perform his official
duties without violating the law
as it now stands, and thus MAX
ing him liable TO arrest and fine
not for doing any wrong. but be-
cause of the loose way in which
the law is worded and when so
a
of the peace the minister Is dem .
MED the right of appeal to any
higher court by the express word
of the present statute therefore
be Il
Resolved. That we. the minis
ters composing the Methodist
Episcopal Preachers Association
of Wilmington and vicinity, petit
tion the General Assembly OF the
State of Delaware. now in ses-
sion in Dover. to grant US relief
from the present burdensome and
iniquitous law, by granting TO us
FIVE amendments to the present
law, as follows.
To Amend the Revised Code OF
the State of Delaware as publish
ed in 1914. Two in Chapter. en-
titled Boards of Health" First.
Amend those sections which read.
'on or before the last day of the
month ia which said marriage or
marriages were solemnized or
contracted" by striking out and
inserting so It shall read, within
ten days after said marriage or
marriages shall have been
solemnized or contracted"
Second. Amend section S4,
lines 13 and IA, by striking out
the words, "and from his decision
there shall be no appeal"
Three in Chapter S5 entitled
Marriage"
Third. Amend section by
striking out all that portion of
the section which requires the
return of the certificate accom-
panying the marriage license
within four days, in so far as it
applies to the ministers of the
gospel living in the city of Will
mington.
Fourth Amend section 9 by
striking out all reference as to
time when a license shall become
effective.
Fifth. Amend by inserting a
new section, to be numbered sec
uOn a, which snail require tndt
no marriage license shall be is
sued by any officer of the State
until seven days shall have elaps-
ed after receiving notice, in writ
ing, in person or by mail, that
application will be made for a
marriage license. The officer re-
oeiving such notice shall copy
same on a card prepared by the
Secretary of State and furnished
without cost To the justices of the
peace and clerks of the peace of
the counties. said cards to con-
tain the following with proper
blank spacing:
Notice of Application for a Mar.
riage License.
Nt. .s.s..s.... .f..... ..-...sss
Date or notice. e.................
Date when notice received ...