In all cases where decrees of court have been obtained prior to January 1, 1969, in which the proof of publication of the original notice has been made by the affidavit of the editor of the newspaper or the publisher, manager, cashier, or supervisor thereof in which such original notice was published, the same are hereby legalized and such decrees shall have the same force and effect as though the affidavit of the publisher or supervisor of the newspaper in which original notice was published had been filed as provided by section 3536, Code of 1897, or section 11085, Codes of 1924, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1939 and rule of civil procedure, number 60, Code 1946, that all decrees obtained as aforesaid are hereby legalized and held to have the same force and effect as though the proof of the publication on the original notice had been made by the affidavit of the publisher or supervisor of the newspaper in which such original notice was published.