212 RE-MARRIAGE AFTER DIVORCE Papers BY SIR WALTER PHILLIMORE, BART., D.C.L. AND JOHN WALTER LEA, Esq., F.R.HIST.Soc. With notes BY REV. CANON HOCKIN ON THE REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE UPPER HOUSE PRICE ONE SHILLING. To Members E. C. U., Post Free for Eightpence. L.EcW. Eng. Rc) .45€ Marriage? LONDON THE ENGLISH CHURCH UNION OFFICE, 35. WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND W.C. REPORT To the Council of the E. C. U., on so much of the Report of the Committee of the Upper House of the Convocation of Canterbury as relates to the question of the Re-marriage of the Innocent Partner after Divorce obtained for Adultery. BY JOHN WALTER LEA, ESQ., F.R.HIST.SOC. I HAVE been requested by the Council to give an opinion on one special portion of the Report on Divorce presented to the Upper House of Convocation by a Committee of Bishops; on that portion, namely, which relates to the "re-marriage" of the innocent partner after Divorce obtained for Adultery. I will confine myself to this as far as I conveniently can; but I cannot do so entirely, because the particular question is necessarily closely bound up with that of the dissolubility or indissolubility of the marriage union in general. It is clear that if this union is absolutely indissoluble during the joint lives of the married, no second marriage within that limit of time can be lawful to either partner under any circumstances. I may say at once that, for my own part, I do believe in this absolute indissolubility of marriage as ordained at the beginning and as restored by our LORD CHRIST. I believe marriage to be a perpetual Image of the Incarnation; more especially of that Sacramental extension of the Divine Mystery of the union of CHRIST with His Body collectively and with His members severally which is first effected through Baptism and afterwards sustained and intensified through Holy Communion. To the law. B |