পাতা:তত্ত্ববোধিনী পত্রিকা (অষ্টম কল্প দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড).pdf/৪১

... איל (וזדמס aggressive with respect to the position of those Brahmos, who would continue to be married according to the rites and ceremonies as at preseut obtain among them, irrespective of those forms which the legislature by this law would impose. Thirdly.--That the operation of such a law, if passed, will tend to separate and dissociate the Brahmos from the general body of Hindoos of whom they now form an integral part. It was never the object of the Brahmo Satnaj, to bring about such a state of things, which will only injure their cause, their object being to reform the Hindoo }ommunity by means of agencies and instruments growing from within. The passing of the Hill would, it is apprehended, lessen their influence over their countrymen by the dissociation above alluded to, and seriously injure the cause of religious reformation in lindia. It interfores with their existing social usages First, ... That according to the imme morial usage of Hindoo Society, th changes that to time adopted by the community, have been so done according to the wishes and opinions of the leading members thereof, followed by the genoral community, and that your memorialists are of opinion,that the interference of the Legislature,in respect to social nsages, is not at all necessary. That your memorialists beg to subnuit, that by forcing a law of the kind now under contemplation upon the Brahmo Somajat large, contrary to the wishes of the major part of it, would be impolitic. T It would cause a great deal of heartburning among its members, as also render their position anomalous by the oooial disturbances which it will give riše to. Secondly.—That, Aumerical j, the considering the songth of the Brahmo Bill, if passed, will tend to THE CIVIL MARRIAGE BILL 8S | demoralise the Brahmo Community, ||} have been from tiuvo . at present, comparatively few in number, by separating it from the generál body of Hindoos, a result which the Legislature will never desire to bring about. Thirdly. –That, considering the general aspect and the history of Hindoo Society, it will ho observed, that nu merous sects, differing materially in their doctrines from the existing ortho. dox creed, have grown up from time to time, and are still springing up, the legality of whose social practices and rel eulonies has never been questioned by law, though such practices are not in exact consonance to the usages enjoined by the Shasters, and the same principle hoids good in the ease of the Brahmo Solnaj whose form of marriage does not differ so widely from the orthodox form as those of some heterodox Hindu sects. Fourthly.—That the form of regis tration of marriages prescribed in the Bill, reducing it to a mere civil contract, and not making it obligatory on the parties to the marriage to go through any religious celemony, is extremely revolting to the feelings and ideas of members of the Brahimo Samaj, and it will b, hard for them deeply impressed they are with the sacred and religious character of marriage, to reconcile themselves to the forms and practices, enjoined in the proposed law. Fifthly.—That the provision, with respect to the age of the parties contracting Brahuno Marriages, is quite inconsonant to the usages of the country. Your Memorialists also beg to submit for your FXcellency's consider. ation in Council that the marriageable age of native girls in India is consider չէ:Հ ed to be below 14 years. Sirthly—That the provision, with regard to bigamy, is uncalled for, and in many instances will operate injuriously. For in the first place, bigamy and polygamy as parts of Hindu social economy, are gradually and rapidly dying out at the advance of education and enlighten. ment. The Brahmo Somaj, as the advanced section of tho Hindui community, ' has all along denounced and discountemanced the custom. They are happy to see the same practice now denounced by the Sanatan Dharma Rakkhini Shabha, the exponent of the orthodox