The German Parliament has passer the new marriage law, or
law of religious ceremonies for the Empire, which is of the most comprehensive kind. Under its provisions the civil contract is compulsory, though of course it may he followed by any religious ceremony ; the baptism of children is left optional with parents, and all graveyards are thrown open to all sects. Men above twenty- four and women above twenty-three may marry without their - J3'0 parents' consent, the marriages of priests and nuns is legalised, and all relatives usually entitled to marry in Christian countries may marry, with the addition apparently, as in France, of uncle and niece. Divorce is made a civil process exclusively, and separation a mensd et thoro is to be divorce. No widow or divorcée can marry again within ten months, and in cases of adultery the parties cannot marry each other. It is stated that since the adoption of civil marriage in Prussia seventy-five per cent, of all marriages in Berlin have been unaccompanied by religious ceremonies, and only thirty per cent. of the children born have been baptised.
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