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Show Civil and Religious Marriages. To day marrlago Is a civil contract In Catholic as well as Protestant countries. Tho United States unj France, since the revolution, ficely recognlzo this fact. Marrlago Is legally binding, If performed according accord-ing to the laws of the land, without any Intervention of tho church. This result wns Inevitable because of the personal anil property rights Involved which belonged properly to tho Jurl-diction Jurl-diction of the state. Tho church, ho'h Cnthollc nnd Protestant, rotalns however, lis am lout privileges of ceremonial over Its m ambers, and this accords with popular prejudice, which likes to regard marriage as a Bpcramcnl, and which sees the advantage ad-vantage of giving tho ceremony tho greatest posslblo publicity and solemn sanction. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. . |