Note 1239 — Chapter IX · THE PROTESTANT CONCEPTION OF MARRIAGE

In Germany, at the Reformation, matrimonial jurisdiction fell partly into the hands of the parish clergy, partly into the hands of secular judges. The former in their decisions followed mainly the Roman law and the scriptural teachings under the guidance of Luther and other great theologians; while the lay judges were guided by the corpus juris canonici. Confusion arose; the law was carelessly and ignorantly administered; and so a demand was made for special courts for matrimonial questions. This resulted, generally, in the relegation of matrimonial causes to the newly created consistories, composed partly of spiritual and partly of temporal judges, who in practice followed the principles of the canon law and constituted in fact ecclesiastical courts. Compare the very interesting decisions of the consistory court of Wittenberg, already quoted, beginning soon after its formation, in Schleusner, Anfänge des prot. Eherechts, 130-62. It can scarcely be said that the evils of matrimonial law and administration in Germany were very much lessened as a result of the Reformation during the first two centuries after Luther. See the minute investigation of Friedberg, Eheschliessung, 177 ff., 186 ff.; and his Geschichte der Civilehe. Compare the discussion of the rise of matrimonial jurisdiction in chap. xi.