One question remains: Is not the present Divorce Law "one law for the rich and another for the poor"? Beyond all question. This is its sole merit, if merit it can have. It does, at least, partially protect the poor from sin-made-easy—a condition which money has bought for the rich. If the State abrogated the Sixth Commandment for the rich, and made it lawful for a rich man to commit murder, it would at least be no demerit if it refused to extend the permit to the poor.
(2) The Non-Related.
But, secondly, marriage is for the non-related—non-related, that is, in two ways, by Consanguinity, and Affinity.
(a) By Consanguinity. Consanguinity is of two kinds, lineal and collateral. Lineal Consanguinity[[7]] is blood relationship "in a direct line," i.e. from a common ancestor. Collateral Consanguinity is blood relationship from a common ancestor, but not in a direct line.
The law of Consanguinity has not, at the present moment, been attacked, and is still the law of the land.
(b) By Affinity. Affinity[[8]] is near relationship by marriage. It is of three kinds: (1) Direct, i.e. between a husband and his wife's blood relations, and between a wife and her husband's blood relations; (2) Secondary, i.e. between a husband and his wife's relations by marriage; (3) Collateral, i.e. between a husband and the relations of his wife's relations. In case of Affinity, the State has broken faith with the Church without scruple, and the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill[[9]] is the result. So has it
brought confusion to the Table round.
The question is sometimes asked, whether the State can alter the Church's law without her consent. An affirmative answer would reduce whatever union still remains between them to its lowest possible term, and would place the Church in a position which no Nonconformist body would tolerate for a day. The further question, as to whether the State can order the Church to Communicate persons who have openly and deliberately broken her laws, needs no discussion. No thinking person seriously contends that it can.
(3) For the Full-Aged.
No boy under 14, and no girl under 12, can contract a legal marriage either with, or without the consent of Parents or Guardians. No man or woman under 21 can do so against the consent of Parents or Guardians.