Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-01
OUR MAIL POUCH.
Bishop Littlejohn and Divorces.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Your issue of to-day contains Especial
telegram from New York with this heading,
"a Bishop Denounces Divorces, but Never
theless Assists His Daughter to Secure q
Legal Decree" The body Of the telegram
then discusses the action Of the Rt Rev.
Abram Newkirk Littlejohn, D. D., LII. D.,
Bishop Of Long Island, in reference to the
divorce Of his daughter, and divorce in
general, so far as the Bishop teaches. You
are not at all responsible for the peculiar
light which your correspondent throws over
the case, to which refer, and 1t is for this
reason that I beg the privilege of saying
word in Pittsburg paper In favor OF very
been misrepresented I can speak from
personal knowledge for he ordained me TO
the diaconate and priesthood, and besides
the early part of my ministry was spent In
his diocese.
There is not a more consistent man or
Bishop in the United states than Bishop
Littlejonn, neither is there q more succesS
ever he has said or done in reference to his
daughters divorce has been both honorable
and consistent. He is a very cautious man.
The Protestant Episcopal Church holds
mony; but she says that II either party to
the sacred contract has deceived the other
prior to the ceremony, their marriage has
been null and void from the beginning"
This is the ohurch's language to "the per
sons who are to be married." 7s1 require and
charge you both, as ye will answer at the
dreadful day of Judgment when the secrets of
ali hearts shall be disclosed, that if either Of
you know any impediment why ye may not
be lawfully Joined together in matrimony,
noM e
wise than as Gods word doth allow, their
marriage is not lawful" Surely this is clear
language. 1t means, first, this, viz: II either
purity, If either of you have been married
and have husband or wife still living from
whom you have not been scripturally freed,
peded from being What You represent your
Self to be and what you know you are not,
then your marriage Is not lawful. Now
under this point and for one of the above
given reasons, the marriage of Bishop Little
johns daughter was null and void from the
beginning
ecclesiastical one, in reference to holy mat
rimony. Marriage is both civil contract
and a sacramental rite. The church in the
case of Bishop Littlejohn's daughter did her
part when she, through the mouth of four
Bishops selected for the consideration of the
subject, declared that the marriage was
''null and void from the beginning" And
the Bishop of Long Island did only his duty,
when, in obedience to summons from a
State court, he bore testimony that his
daughter was deceived, If she had been, by
Mr.. jerks.
Bishop Littlejohn WAS placed in a most
delicate position. He was and is defender
of the sacredness of the marriage VOW. He
was and is father of beautiful daughter
who was, we are told. both deceived and
thrown upon cruel world without support
by O man who represented himself to her as
an ideal suppliant for her heart and hand.
What was the Bishop and father to dor
Take her home and yet leave her chained to
a matrimonial corpse? Assist her in getting
State divorce without an ecclesiastical foun-
dation, or just causef No. He did first the
churchman's part, viz: show that their mar
riage was null and void from the begin
ming" Then he did the citizens duty-obey
the1aws of the State.
am aware of the fact that have tres
passed upon your precious space, but you
will pardon me for the reason that you are
as willing as the writer to clear away the
cloud which some would, II they only could,
lower down upon a great moral teacher as
well as Christian Bishop. Respectfully,
INGRAM n. W. IRVINE.
ALL SAINTS CHURCH, Braddock, Pa, May 20.