CHAPTEK III 



CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE AND MORALITY 



Amid the diversity of marriage customs in the world 

 we can perceive a strong tendency in favour of the 

 singleness of the union, due perhaps to the fact 

 that the sexes are as nearly as possible equal in 

 numbers. The statistics of civilised countries show 

 a steady proportion of something like 104 male births 

 to 100 female, the excess of the former being de- 

 signed to repair the greater mortality of males occa- 

 sioned by the struggle for existence. 



In the prime of life the equilibrium of the sexes is 

 fairly established, although, as the result of migration, 

 there may be found to be an undue proportion of 

 men in one part of the world and of women in 

 another. Hence monogamy is the rule even where 

 polygamy is sanctioned by law and religion. It is, 

 in fact, a necessity. 



