Page:Cihm12428.djvu/12



We shall hereafter present the earnest and learned words of many illustrious Prelates of our Church on this subject; we will merely note here, as an example of this writer's reckless statements, what he says in regard to "only a portion of the English Nonconformists." The London Central Board of the Three Denominations in England adopted a resolution saying, "Such marriage (with a deceased wife's sister) is not only in itself perfectly allowable, but may often be the best which an individual may contract." The Board of Baptist Ministers in London and Westminster adopted a resolution declaring: "In the judgment of the Board, the marriage of a widower with the sister of his deceased wife is Scripturally lawful, and ought not to be prohibited by any human legislation." The famous Wesleyan minister, the late Dr. Bunting, said in his evidence before the Royal Commission: "That the enactments of the Levitical law are entirely misrepresented when applied in condemnation of marriage with a deceased wife's sister was the decided judgment of Mr. Wesley, the founder of our Societies; and I believe that similar views are entertained by many among us, who have been led by circumstances carefully to examine the matter, and whose competency to judge of such a question has given great weight to their conclusions."

This writer says:—"The general contempt for religious, as opposed to secular law, characterizes the looseness of Colonial populations." This statement is not only untrue, but a calumny upon our Colonial population, which regards religious law as everything, and looks with comparative indifference upon all secular law in religious matters. Such an utterance is the characteristic language of some who come to the colony for the improvement of their own condition, and then magnify themselves by speaking contemptuously of everything Colonial and its population.