The Law Lords were all in favour of the Bill as a whole, though they criticized in details, particularly the clause which forbids divorce in the first five years of marriage which is almost Mr. Herbert's only defence against the charge that he is cncouraging divorce, his point being that if young people are prevented from rushing into the Divorce Court when they begin to jangle, they, would find that their differences were not so bad as they had thought.
The Archbishop of Canterbury said that he must abstain from voting at all As head of the Anglican Church must recognize its belief that the teaching of Christ was that marriage was life-long and indissoluble. As a man he could not but see that there were wide differences of opinion on that principle. In other words: (though they were not the Archbishop's) "These things are too high for me; I cannot attain unto them."
Tt may be added that there are now wide differences of opinion as fo the Archbishop's attitude, some Jamenting his weakness, others applauding his honesty.
Without expressing any opinion as the rightfulness of the Bill, one argument used by its supporters strikes one as not a little curious.
fs crystallized in "The Times" as} follows: tealy te'ine highest ist standard syond, question divorce ts con.
igh wort ait word agit exit tovday and 'Norld'as Liv should bec teeisation can arn' A
The line of argument far trans-ends of divorce -alone. Clearly" implies that any fundamental principle of Christianity which society finds inconvenient must be got rid of by legislators. In fact, Christianity most be made for man, not man for Christianity.
And that little word "to-day" in "The Times" argument seems to give away the case particularly badly.
"The Bill has still several hurdles to get over. Numerous amendments have already been sent in for the Committee stage in the Lords. When these are done with they have to be accepted by the Commons who send back the BUll to the Lords with further changes. Unless the Bill becomes law this session, that is before ihe end of July, it may be held up
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.