Marriage (Society of Friends) Act, 1860

MARRIAGE (SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) ACT 1860

CHAPTER XVIII

An Act to amend the Acts relating to Marriages in England and Ireland, by extending certain Provisions thereof to Persons professing with the Society of Friends called Quakers.[1] [15th May 1860.]

[Preamble recites 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 85; 7 & 8 Vict. c. 81.]

Marriages of Quakers where one only or where neither of the parties is a member of the Society of Friends.

1. From and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and sixty marriages may be contracted and solemnized according to the usages of the said society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, in England and Ireland respectively, not only in the case provided for by the said recited provisions, but also in cases where one only or where neither of the parties to the marriage shall be a member of the said Society: . . . provided also, that no person who is not a member of the said Society shall be married according to the usages thereof unless he or she shall be authorized thereto under or in pursuance of some general rule or rules of the said Society in England and Ireland respectively; and a copy of such general rule or rules purporting to be signed by the recording clerk for the time being of the said Society in London and in Dublin respectively shall be admitted as evidence of such general rule or rules in all proceedings touching the validity of any such marriage.

Enactments now in force to extend to every marriage contracted under the authority of this Act.

2. All the enactments now in force, whether contained in the said recited Acts or in any other Act or Acts of Parliament, and relating to marriages contracted and solemnized according to the usages of the said Society in England and Ireland respectively, and to the registration thereof, so far as the same are not inconsistent with this Act, shall extend and be applicable to every marriage contracted and solemnized by the authority of this Act in England and Ireland respectively, as fully and effectually as if the same enactments were repeated herein.

[1 Short title, “The Marriage (Society of Friends) Act, 1860.” See 55 & 56 Vict. c. 10.]