DRAWN UP BY A COMMITTEE OF THE SYNOD OF THE
FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
THE following Protest, with Reasons, against the recently passed Deceased Wife’s Sister Act, is now issued by the Committee appointed at the November Synod :—
“The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland protested against the passing of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill while it was under discussion in Parliament, and forwarded its protest to the Prime Minister and others, and now that the Bill has been placed upon the Statute Book of this Realm, the Synod renews its former protest, and appeals to Parliament to take steps for the repeal of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Act. Some of the reasons for making this appeal are as follows :—
“(1.) That the Word of God forbids marriages within certain degrees of ‘near of kin,’ both on the ground of consanguinity and affinity, and that the prohibition on the ground of affinity goes out equally far with that on the ground of consanguinity.—Vide Leviticus, chap. xviii. 6-18. This has been the almost universal belief of the Christian Church in all past ages.
“(2.) The Synod, believing as it does the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith to be founded upon and agreeable to God’s Word, takes its stand in this matter upon chapter 24 section 4 of said Confession, and reminds Parliament and all others that this is the law of the Church and Nation of Scotland regarding marriage. The section referred to runs as follows:—’Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife. The man may not marry any of his wife’s kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor of the woman of her husband’s kindred nearer in blood than of her own.’
“(3.) This Synod draws attention to the fact that this Act has produced, and will produce, various demoralising results in the life of the nation, some of which are the following:—(a) It has placed the legislature and the civil law in direct antagonism to God’s word, and to the consciences of all who take that Word as their only rule of conduct, as well as to the Scriptural law of marriage still constitutionally held by the Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland. (b) It is a retrograde step from the standard of morality hitherto maintained in this nation, and will consequently cause much unnecessary trouble to Churches, families, and men’s consciences, and it will assuredly bring the wrath of God with many penal consequences upon those who will contract such incestuous marriages.
“(4.) The Synod gives public notice to all concerned that the Ministers of this Church shall not be at liberty to perform marriage except in strict conformity with the Confession of Faith, and that Church privileges shall not be extended to any who contract marriage under the license given by the said Deceased Wife’s Sister Act.”