§ SIR G. OSBORNE MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case in the South Western Police Court, reported in The Daily News, 16th March, of a poor woman who complained to Mr. de Rutzen that a clergyman refused to perform the ceremony of marriage between her daughter and her would-be husband because she was approaching her confinement, although the banns had been paid for; whether a clergyman of the Church of England can lawfully refuse to perform the ceremony of marriage between two persons, not otherwise incapacitated, upon the sole ground alleged; and whether, in view of the expense and delay involved in a prosecution for such refusal, he can take steps to prevent its recurrence in future? In putting the question the right hon. Gentleman said he understood 1109 now that the clergyman had thought better of the matter and that the couple in question had been married by him, but he must press the matter, as it involved a question of law.
§ MR. ASQUITHI have been in communication with the clergyman, who, it appears from what he tells mo, thought it his duty, before pronouncing the blessing of the Marriage Service, to require some assurance of their sorrow for their past. He therefore suggested that they should be married at the Registry Office. Having received satisfactory evidence of their sorrow for their offence, the couple were married by him. With regard to the last two paragraphs, it appears to be a question of ecclesiastical discipline. I have no authority in the matter. I do not think a clergyman of the Church of England can lawfully refuse to marry a couple solely on the ground alleged. I do not see that any alteration of the law is rendered necessary by the occurrence.