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24
have taken place in the trade and commerce of the Borough,
and with a decrease which has actually occurred in the
population.
The marriages were celebrated in the following places:—
631
in Churches of England.
107
in other places of worship.
167
in the Superintendent Registrar's Office.
905
Total.
There is no doubt that the time is fast approaching when
some means will have to be adopted to prevent the marriage of
the unfit. How much better this country would be if the legal
part of a marriage were performed by the Mayor of a Borough
and thus make it a municipal affair. In this civil contract the
contracting parties should first be required to give notice to the
Medical Officer of Health, who would then issue a report to
the effect that he had reason to believe the parties were mentally
and physically sound and suitable for marriage either on his
own examination or the certificate of their medical attendant.
Such a proceeding would do much to improve the stamina and
mental efficiency of the next generation. Neither would there
be any hardship from a religious point of view, because the
interested parties could still receive the blessing of their respective
churches, whilst relieving the clergyman or registrar of
what should be serious responsibility.
When giving the above statistics on the marriage rate, one
is tempted to ask, What part do the churches in the borough
take in the improvement of the public health and the physical
betterment of the people ? I am forced to say that the churches
of to-day of all denominations might do more towards teaching
the people to lead cleaner and healthier lives.