Matter of Discipline

He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

Even before St. Paul wrote these words in his letter to the Corinthians, Christians were debating whether or not the dedicated man of God should marry. Last fortnight in Wolverhampton, England, the Rev. Wilfrid Ellis, 60, Anglican bachelor vicar of St. George's Church, took a contemporary look at the matter in his parish magazine:

"I have always maintained that if our clergy must marry they should marry money or be men of private means. The funds of the church are for pastoral, work. They will never suffice to maintain the social position women expect, or for the expensive education of our children. The celibacy of the priesthood is a matter of discipline, not of doctrine or theology . . .

"The real trouble is that we marry so unwisely or too soon. It would be a useful discipline if deacons were debarred from marrying, yet there were seven students' perambulators parked in my old theological college the other day. It is no reflection on the splendid wives of some of the clergy to say that most of them would be better priests if they were single. The bachelor priest is more mobile if necessary, but he tends to stay longer at his post and to be more contented with his house and his people. Whereas, if he is offered a better living, the Rev. Mr. Quiverfull never dares to refuse. A mission field is generally ruled out, and the subject of preferment, health, pensions for widow or orphans is bound to occupy his attention . . .

"Rome is not always right, but she never lacks men and she never lacks money. And it is just possible that in this matter of matrimony, her discipline is wiser than ours."

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