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so celebrating it, and it might be safely left to their own feelings on that head. With the present countless variety of Dissenters it was next to impossible to leave the matter entirely to them, or to have any hope that they would duly attend to registration. But if any plan could be devised providing for regularity in registration, through a notary or otherwise, he saw no objection to leaving all Dissenters to celebrate their own marriages.

Lord TENTERDEN (the Lord Chief Justice) was one of those who voted in the minority against this Bill. He at any rate should suggest an amendment in the declaration requiring it to be shewn that the parties were actually members of a Unitarian congregation. He also objected to making it imperative on the magistrate. He thought he should only be authorized, not required. In populous places there would be no difficulty in finding a magistrate who would act.

Lord ROSSLYN. If the parties were previously married at their own places, they need only declare before the magistrate that they had so been, which would take away all appearance of his performing the ceremony. He was friendly to the Bill in any way. Lord REDESDALE thought that making the office optional with the magistrate would remove many difficulties. still objected to the form as not being, even according to the parties' own views, of a binding character.

He

The LORD CHANCELLOR referred to the clause which made it binding. He read the Irish statute permitting Dissenters to celebrate marriage. All the principles objected to in this Bill had been recognized, and were the law of Ireland without any complaint. No religious ceremonial was by our own law considered necessary. The consent of the parties gave marriages validity. In some countries of Europe where it was acknowledged that no religious ceremony was necessary, yet marriage was binding, as it would be declared to be by this act. The question was not what the parties considered binding.

Lord REDESDALE explained that his observations were only addressed to the supposed desirableness of giving such a sanction to marriage, as, according to the religious views of the parties, was likely to have that effect.

The Bishop of CHESTER'S amendment as to "Clerks in holy orders," was then agreed to, and several others proposed by him. At the clause as to payment of fees he observed, that he had not expected to hear the observations which had been made. In many cases they

constituted a considerable source of the minister's income. It was their sacred duty to provide for the interests of these persons, and not the less so because they themselves were silent on the subject.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH and Lord TenTERDEN made some observations as to the possibility of improving and rendering more certain the transmission of the magistrate's certificate, by his sending it himself, or by some person authorized by him.

Lord REDESDALE observed, that some better and more general register was very desirable; perhaps nothing more required attention. Greater publicity was very desirable. The parochial returns to the bishops were he believed very imperfect. It was of great importance to consider whether a better general register of marriages, baptisms, and burials, could not be established.

The Report was then ordered to be taken into consideration the next day.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29th.

The Report of the Committee was taken into consideration. Lord TENTERDEN made his proposed amendment in the declaration, and the Bill was or dered to be printed and read a third time that day fortnight. By which meaus it goes over to next Session, according to the arrangement of the day before.

We subjoin the Bill as amended by the Lords. We refer to our observations at the commencement of our Report of the proceedings, and would only add, that any practical suggestions upon it may be usefully addressed to the Solici tor of the Association.

A Bill [as Amended] by the Lords'

Committee, intituled an Act for granting Relief to certain Persons dissenting from the Church England, in respect of the Mode of celebrating Marriage.

The words printed in Italics' were added by the Lords' Committee; and the Words at the Bottom of the Pages, are those which stood in the Bill as passed by the Commons, but were left out by the Lords' Committee.

Whereas it is expedient to make Pro

* in the Nineteenth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third an Act was passed, intituled An Act for the further Relief of Protestant Dissenting Ministers aud Schoolmasters; and in the Fifty-third Year of His said late Majesty an Act was passed, inti

vision for the Marriage of the Members ofpreviously sign a Declaration in Writing, certain Congregations of Protestent Disseaters, usually assembling for Divine Worship in certain Chapels or Places duly entered and registered according to Law, who deny the Doctrine of the Holy Trimity, as it is declared in the Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute made in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and who therefore scruple to be married according to the Office of Matrimony in the Book of Common Prayer: Be it therefore, enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That at any Time after the passing of this Act, whenever the Banns of Marriage shall have been duly published Three several Sundays in the proper Parish Church or Churches, Chapel or Chapels, as required by Law, between any Two Persons being Members of any such Congregation as aforesaid, who shall be desirous of having the Benefit of this Act, without Just Cause or Impediment having been declared against such Marriage, it shall be lawful for the Rector, Vicar, Curate, or Officiating Minister of each and every Parish or Chapelry in which such Banns of Marriage shall have been published, and he is hereby directed and required, to give a Certificate in Writing under his Hand, certifying the due Publication of such Bauns, and that no Cause or just Impediment had been declared why the Parties should not be joined together in Matrimony, such Certificate being in the Form specified in the Schedule to this Act marked (B.), with such Variations as Circumstances shall require: Provided nevertheless, that both the Parties shall

in the Form specified in the Schedule to this Act marked (A.), with such Variations as Circumstances may require; and such Declaration shall be also certified and attested, in the Form specified in the said Schedule, by the Officiating Minister of such Congregation, if any such there be; and also by Two Elders of the same Congregation, being Housekeepers; and in case there be no Officiating Minister, then by Three Elders of the same Congregations, being Housekeepers; and in which Declaration and Certificate the Place of Abode, and also the State, Profession, or Trade of every Person signing the same, or therein mentioned, shall be truly set forth: Provided also, that previously to giving such Certificate as aforesaid, the Rector, Vicar, Curate, or Officiating Minister and Clerk of the Parish or Chapelry in which the Woman intending to be married shall be resident, shall be entitled to and shall receive from the Party applying for such Certificate, such and the same Fees, Duties, and Emoluments as might by Law or Custom be demanded for publishing such Banns and solemnizing such Marriage in the Parish Church or Chapel of such Parish or Chapelry.

tuled An Act to relieve Persons who impugn the Doctrine of the Trinity from certain Penalties: And whereas several of His Majesty's Subjects, being Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England, entertaining conscientious scruples with respect to Belief in the Doctrine of the Trinity, and commonly called Unitarians, regard the Necessity of solemnizing Matrimony according to the Office of Matrimony in the Book of Common Prayer as a Grievance repugnant to their Religious feelings, and have at various Times petitioned Parliament to be relieved therefrom: And whereas it is expedient to grant some Ease to scrupu lous Consciences in this respect, without infringing on the general Policy of the Law relative to Marriages:

* Protestant Dissenters of the Unitarían Persuasion,

And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for such Persons so proposing to intermarry as aforesaid, or any Person on their Behalf, to carry such Certificate or Certificates of the Publication of Bauns, or their Licence, in case the Marriage shall be had by Licence, and to leave the same, together with the said Declaration, and Certificate thereto subscribed, or another Declaration and Certificate, in the same Form, and signed as aforesaid, with any Justice of the Peace, Mayor, Alderman, or Magistrate, authorized by Law to act as a Justice of the Peace within the* Division, City, Borough, or Corporate Town or Place wherein the said Parties or either of them reside; and such Justice, Mayor, Aldermau, or Magistrate, not being a Clerk in Holy Orders, shall and is hereby required thereupon to name and appoint a Time, within the Hours appointed by Law for the Celebration of Marriages, and not at a less Distance than the Second Day thereafter, nor a greater Distance than Four Days from the Receipt of such Certificate or Licence and Declaration, and Certificate thereto subscribed, at which Time, and at some suitable and convenient Place to be also appointed by such Justice, Mayor, Alderman, or Magistrate, the Parties so proposing to intermarry shall and may appear; aud such Justice, Mayor, Alderman, or Ma

* County,

gistrate is hereby required and authorized thereupon to attend and take the Declaration of the contracting of Marriage, and to permit such Parties to intermarry before him in the Presence of such Witnesses as are required by Law for the Celebration of Marriages; which Marriage, as the Form thereof, shall be had and declared in Manner and according to the Form following; the Man to be married, taking the Woman to be married by the Hand, shall plainly and distinctly pronounce these Words,

"I, A. B., do take and acknowledge thee C. D. for my wedded Wife before these Witnesses."+

And then the Woman, taking the Man by the Hand, shall plainly and distinctly pronounce these Words,

"I, C. D., do take and acknowledge thee A. B. for my wedded Husband before these Witnesses."§

Which said Words and Acknowledgment of Marriage shall be fairly written or printed at the Foot of or indorsed upon the Certificate of the Publication of Banns or Licence, as the Case may be, and shall be signed by the Parties married, and attested by the Justice and other Witnesses present thereat, according to the Form following : "Parish of Duy of

the

in the Year "We, L. M., One of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace of the County, Division, or other Place, and usually acting in the said Parish as such Justice, do hereby attest that the before-mentioned Words were pronounced and signed by the said A. B. and C. D. in our Presence, at the Time and Place before-mentioned.

"N. O. of "P. Q. of And such Marriage, so to be had and declared, shall thereupon be as valid and effectual in the Law to all Intents and Purposes as if the same had been solemnized in the usual Mauner in a Church or Chapel by a Minister of the Church of England, and according to the Office of Matrimony in the Book of Common Prayer, and no further or otherwise; and it shall not be necessary thereafter to give in Evidence the Delivery of such written Declaration or Declarations, Certificate or Certificates, or Attestation, or to prove that the Parties were Protestant Dissenters of the Persuasion aforesaid, in sup

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port of the Validity of the said Marriage upon any Occasion whatever, nor shall any Evidence be received to prove the contrary in any Suit touching the Validity of the said Marriage: Provided always, that no such Justice, Mayor, Alderman, or Magistrate shall proceed upon Certificate of Banus to the Marriage of any Two Persons, both or one of whom shall be under the Age of Twenty-one Years, not being a Widower or Widow, when and in case he shall have Notice of the Dissent of the Parents or Guardians of the Party under Age; neither shall such Justice, Mayor, Alderman or Magistrate, in any Case where a Marriage shall not be had within Three Months after the complete Publication of Banns, proceed to the Marriage of the Parties, until the Banns shall have been republished on Three several Sundays, in due Course of Law, or unless by Licence duly obtained.

And be it further enacted, That Two other Copies of the said Acknowledgment of Marriage and Attestation shall be made and signed immediately after such Marriage, One whereof shall be delivered to each of the said married Parties.

And be it further enacted, That no Licence for a Marriage to be had according to this Act shall be granted without the Production of such Declaration and Certificate thereto subscribed as are herein required to be delivered to the Person granting a Certi ficate of the Publication of Banns, and that a Copy thereof shall be indorsed on such Licence, and certified to be a true Copy by the Person granting such Licence.

And be it further enacted, That a Fee of Two Shillings and Sixpence shall be paid to the Justice before whom such Marriage shall be had, or his Clerk.

And whereas it is expedient to provide for the regular Registration of such Marriages, and for facilitating the Means of Proof thereof; be it therefore further enacted, That the Justice or other Per son as aforesaid, before whom any such Marriage shall be so had, shall immedi ately thereafter return the Acknowledg

make out, sign, and deliver to such Parties a Certificate of such Marriage being had, for which a Fee of Two Shillings and Sixpence and no more shall be paid, and which shall be subscribed by the said Parties, and by at least Two of the Witnesses present thereat, and shall be in the Form specified in Schedule (C.) to this Act, with such Alterations as Circumstances may require, in which Cerficate shall be expressed that the Mar riage was celebrated by Banns or Licence, and in case of the Marriage being by Licence, if both or either of the Parties so married by Licence be under Age, (not

ment of Marriage and Attestation thereof, herein-before required to be made on the said Certificate of the Publication of Banns or Licence, to some one of the Witnesses present at such Marriage, to be by such Witness delivered to the Parson, Vicar, Minister, or Curate of the Parish in which the Woman shall be resident, shall, at the Request of the Parties, or either of them, or of any One of the subscribing Witnesses, on Production and Delivery of such Acknowledgment of Marriage and Certificate, (which shall be deposited and kept in the Parish Chest or Registry,) and the Fees usual and customary to be paid on Marriages having been duly paid on granting the Certificate of Banns as herein-before mentioned, or being paid before the Registration in the Case of Marriages by Licence, forthwith cause § a true Copy of such Acknowledgment and Certificate to be made and entered in the Register Book of Marriages provided and kept by Law, which Entry shall specify the Names of the Magistrate; and || such

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Entry of such Marriage shall be as effectual and valid for all Purposes of Proof of the said Marriage, as the Entry of any Marriage duly had and solemnized, and registered, according to the Usages of the Church of England, and according to the Provisions of the Laws now in force relative thereto.

Provided always, and it is hereby enacted and declared, That † the Person entrusted with such acknowledgment and Attestation shall procure such Entry or Registration to be made of such Marriage within the Space of ↑ Three Days thereafter, but that the Neglect thereof shall not be construed to affect or invalidate the said Marriage; and that in case of Default in § procuring such | Entry within the Space aforesaid, ¶ the Man so** entrusted shall be liable to forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds, one Half whereof shall be paid to the Informer, and the other Half to the Overseers of the Poor of the Parish in which the said Marriage ought to have been registered, and shall be recoverable by Conviction on Information and Summons before any Justice of the Peace having Jurisdiction within such Parish, who shall have Authority to mitigate the said Penalty, nevertheless, to any Sum not less than Five Pounds, and to levy the same, by Warrant under his Hand and Seal, on the Goods aud Chattels of the Offender, who shall be at liberty to appeal against such Conviction to the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, on entering into a Recognizance, with a sufficient Surety, to prosecute such Appeal and pay such costs as shall be awarded by the Justices at such General Quarter Sessions, who shall also have Power to mitigate the said Penalty: Provided always, that no such Conviction shall take place, or such Penalty be recoverable or inflicted, after the Expiration of Six Calendar Months from the Commission of any such Offence.

Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein-before contained shall operate or be construed so as to annul, defeat, or alter the Provisions of any existing Law relative to the previous Publication of Banns, or the obtaining of Licences, or any other Qualifications, Ceremonies, Forms, or Proceed

Registrations of Marriages as are speci-
fied and authorized by this Act; and
of the Registration

+ the said Parties so intermarrying
✰ One Week
§ delivering
|| Certificate

for the Purpose of procuring such Registration, ** intermarrying

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ings, whatsoever requisite for Marriages, except so far as the same are expressly altered or dispensed with in this Act.

Provided always, and be it further enacted, That in case the Parties propose to intermarry by Licence, and not by Banns, it shall and may be lawful for them, on Presentment of the same Declaration and Certificate, signed by the said Parties, as is mentioned in the Schedule marked (A.) to this Act, to sue out a Licence in the usual Manner, and under the Restrictions provided by Law in such Cases, which Licence shall and may (with such Alterations of the Form thereof as shall be required for the Purpose or the Circumstances of the Case) express that the same is for the Purpose of authorizing the Minister, Parson, Vicar, or Curate, to register, instead of to solemnize the said Marriage, on Production of the proper Acknowledgment of the said Marriage, and Attestation subscribed thereto, and such Licence shall and may, within the Time limited by Law for such Licences remaining in force, be produced and delivered by the Parties to the Magistrate before whom such Marriage is to be contracted, instead of the Certificate

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of Banns. +

And be it further enacted, That all and every the Penalties appointed and declared by Law for or against the making of false Entries, or the forging or counterfeiting of any Entry in Registers, or of any Licence for Marriage, or for destroying any Register, shall and are hereby declared to extend and be applicable to the falsely making, altering, forging, counterfeiting, or destroying any Entry, Licence, or Register of any Marriage, or any Declaration, Certificate, Acknowledgment, or Attestation, to be made, signed, given, or granted under the Provisions thereof, or any signature thereto, or to acting or assisting therein, or knowingly uttering or publishing the same, or any Copy thereof, as true.

Provided also, and be it further enacted, That this Act shall extend to England and Wales, and to the Town of Berwickupon-Tweed.

And be it further enacted, That Two printed Copies of this Act shall, as soon

Certificate of the Celebration + and shall, after the contracting of the said Marriage, be re-delivered by the said Magistrate to the Parties, with the Certificate of the Marriage, and shall be produced and delivered, together with such Certificate, to the Parson, Minister, Vicar, or Curate, on the Registration of the Marriage.

under the Provisions of this Act, or any Certificate

as conveniently may be after the passing thereof, be provided by His Majesty's Printer, and transmitted to the Officiating Ministers of the several Parishes and Chapelries of England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed respectively, One of which Copies shall be deposited and kept, with the Book containing the Marriage Register of such Parish or Chapelry, in the Chest or Box provided for the Custody of the same.

Provided also, and be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed or taken to alter or abrogate any Law now in force relating to the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

SCHEDULES TO WHICH THIS ACT

REFERS.

Schedule (A.)

WE, the undersigned A. B. of and C. D. of do hereby declare, That we are Members of a Congregation of Protestant Dissenters who deny the Doctrine of the Trinity, and who usually assemble for Divine Worship in a certain Chapel or Place situate at in the Parish of and duly entered and registered acccording to Law, and that we are desirous of taking the Benefit of a certain Act passed in the Eighth Year of the Reign of King George the Fourth, intituled "An Act for grauting Relief to certain Persons Dissenting from the Church of England, in respect of the Mode of celebrating Marriage."

As witness our Hands,

A. B. C. D.

We do hereby certify and declare the Truth of the above-written Declaration, and that the same was signed by the said A. B. and C. D. in our Presence. As witness our Hands.

I,

E. F. of

G. H. of

I. K. of

Officiating Minister, or one of the Elders of the above-mentioned

Congregation.

Two of the Elders of the same Congregation. Schedule (B)

[Rector, Vicar, Curate, or Officiating Minister,] of the Parish or Chapelry of in the County of do certify, That the Banns of Marriage have been duly published Three several Times between of [or of this Parish,] and of [or of this Parish,] the last of such Publications being made on the Day of One thousand eight hundred

from the Church of England, of the Unitarian Persuasion,

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