59-7. The minister should keep a proper register of the names of all persons whom he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom it may concern.

DIGEST : With only minor changes, the current PCA text is in effect the same as that of PCUSA 1789, while the exact text in all its aspects dates to the PCUS revision of 1929. The concern voiced in this paragraph is reflected in texts back to 1645.

ANTECEDENT TEXTS:
1. PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW, 13-7 (M1GA, Appendix, p. 160)
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, DfW, 13-7, p. 75
3. PCUS 1933, DfW, XIII-7, §369
4. PCUS 1929, DfW, XIII-7, §369
The minister should keep a proper register of the names of all persons whom he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom it may concern.

1. PCUS 1927, DfW, XII-8, §362
2. PCUS 1894, DfW, XII-8
Let the Minister keep a proper register for the names of all persons whom he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom it may concern.

1. PCUS 1885, Third Revision of the Directory of Worship, VIII-2, final paragraph
2. PCUSA 1789, DfW, XI, Section VIII, final paragraph
Let the minister keep a proper register of the names of all persons whom he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom it may concern.

Walter Steuart of Pardovan, Collections and Observations (1707), Title V, §19 [p. 114]
By the Directory for worship on this head, a register is to be carefully kept, wherein the names of the parties so married, with the time of their marriage, are forthwith to be fairly recorded, for the perusal of all whom it may concern. And that the registers of baptisms and marriages may bear the greater faith, it is fit they be subscribed on each page by the minister; or, in a vacancy, by two elders, and the clerk of the session.

The Directory for the Publick Worship of God; agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster,... [1645]
The Solemnization of Marriage, final paragraph
A register is to be carefully kept, wherein the names of the parties so married, with the time of their marriage, are forthwith to be fairly recorded in a book provided for that purpose, for the perusal of all whom it may concern.

OTHER COMPARISONS:
RPCES 1973, Directory of Worship, XIV-5
Ministers should keep a careful record of all marriages. There should be at least two witnesses present, and a certificate of marriage, signed by the officiating minister and the witnesses, should be given to the contracting parties.

COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 448
Ministers should keep good records of all of the marriages they perform. Though not mentioned here, the minister may have responsibility to file the record of the marriage with the civil authorities.