PRACTICES OF GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER IV -- MARRIAGE

1. Its Spiritual Nature. Since God instituted marriage, His will should be sought prayerfully by those who consider marriage. Minors are to get the consent of parents or guardians prior to marriage. Those who plan to marry should know each other well and realize the responsibility involved in setting up a new home. If marriage is entered properly, it can be a happy, beautiful relationship beyond one's anticipation.

2. Legal Requirements. Those who unite in marriage and the ministers who officiate in the ceremonies shall be careful to meet all legal requirements of the state in which they reside, such as the registration of the minister, the securing of the marriage license, the authorization of the ceremony by the minister, the minister's certification of it to those who are wed, and the minister's report to the proper civil officers.

3. Forms of Ceremony. Those who wish to unite in marriage may do so according to the traditional Friends custom or in any other way which they may prefer. It is urged that a religious ceremony be chosen above a civil ceremony and that needless ostentation and expense be avoided. The traditional Friends ceremony is as follows:

Parties desiring to unite in marriage according to the long-standing custom of the Friends should inform the local church of which one or both of them are members that they intend marriage with each other, which church shall enter the proposal on its minutes; and, if either party is a minor, consent of parents or guardians must be given to the church.

If either party be a member of another local church, the local church where the proposition is introduced should have information thereof, so that the name of the local church may be entered on the record.

When any one of the members desires to join in marriage with one who is not a member of a Friends church, the same procedure is recommended as when both are members, the local church noting the fact of non-membership on its records.

If any objections have been presented to the local Elders Board, which they shall judge reasonable, they should inform the local church, and a committee should be appointed to investigate and report, when the meeting may dismiss the case or proceed with it, as shall appear right.

If no objection appears, the parties shall be left at liberty to accomplish their marriage according to the Practices of Government.

A committee of two men and two women shall be appointed to attend the marriage, to see that it is properly conducted and make report to the local church.

Local churches shall not, in any case, recognize marriage proceedings under circumstances which would violate the laws of the state in which the marriage is solemnized.

Marriages under the Practices of Government shall be solemnized in a regular weekday meeting, or in a meeting appointed by the local church.

At a suitable time in the meeting the parties should stand up and, taking each other by the right hand, declare to the following effect, the man first: "In the presence of the Lord and before these witnesses, I take thee, D. E., to be my wife, promising with divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband, as long as we both shall live." And the woman in like manner: "In the presence of the Lord and before these witnesses, I take thee, A. B., to be my husband, promising with divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife, as long as we both shall live."

A certificate is then to be signed by the parties, the man first, the woman adopting the name of her husband; and then it is to be audibly read by some proper person. At the conclusion of the meeting it should be signed by others as witnesses.

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