The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-25
Divorce and Marriage Afterward.


The question what course the Church Of
England should take with reference to the
remarringe OF the divorced was brought
up recently before the lower House OF the
Convocation Of Canterbury by tho report OF
a committee appointed at the last session to
consider the subject.
The conclusion arrived at by the report
was that measures should DO adopted ITO
discountenance the continuance Of the prac-
tice OF granting licenses for the remarriage
Of divorced persons during the lifetime OF
tho partner OF the former marriage" "Ab-
solute indissolubility" said Canon CoNsTAN-
TINE FRERE III supporting this conclusion.
"is the aim, has been, and IL the law Of the
Christian Church." He declared his belief.
too. that 1.-The upholding Of the Divine ideal
OF marriage. the maintenance ofits sanctity,
is at this moment specially committed to
the Anglican Church." contending that the
Roman Church has weakened. II not lost, Its
position through its dispensations." He ar
gued further. that in the sects " as he called
them great disintegration OF faith Is go
ing ON, and that it involves the destruction
of Christian discipline also. IT, therefore,
to use his words. 1.-THE Church Is faithful to
her trust, those among the sects who cling
to the ancient faith and discipline will rally
to that standard" The report also cited the
opinions OF Sir CREsswELL CREsswELL and
Lord PENzANCE, two eminent Judges Of the
Divorce Court, that 1t would be for the
benefit Of society il thu marriage bond were
legally indissoluble."
Archdeacon KAYE and Archdeacon SHER-
INaHAM commended, on the other side, that
tn Church did not forbid such marriage In
the case Of the innocent party. and that the
teachings OF CHRIST allowed 1t. But when
an amendment was offered making this ex-
ception to the conclusion OF the report.
1t was promptly voted down. and the orig
inal motion misunderstanding remarriage
altogether was adopted. With this decided
expression OF opinion the subject was sent
to the upper House.
The Episcopal Church and the Protestant
communions have generally permitted re-
marriage In the ease OF the innocent party
to divorce obtained for adultery, whether
a man or a woman though in England the
late Bishop WORDSWORTH was quoted at the
Canterbury discussion AS holding 1t to bo
permissible to the innocent husband only.
His position was that the spiritual equality
Va Iuo oCAOo, pttitly Ill SCIipUuTo,
does not imply "a parity in the coniugal
relation which is plainly contrary to Scrip.
ture." Instead Of discriminating against thu
woman. the Christian law, contended Canon
CONSTANTINE FRERE. places her on higher
moral and spiritual level than the man.
But In this country the Protestant interpre-
tation OF the law is that there is such a par
ity in the coniugal relation, that what ia al
lowed to the husband Is allowed lnferentially
to the wife. The majority OF the divorces
obtained are obtained by wives and very
many OF the women remarry with the ap-
prevail of the Church and society.
1t has also been shown that Eplscopalian
wives can obtain divorces for any cause al
lowed by the law Of any State. and subse-
quently marry other husbands without
encountering the disapproval OF society, II,
indeed. they are put under the ban OF the
Church ITSELF Such divorces have been fire.
Quent OF late years in tho society OF the
highest fashion, and such remarriages have
been numerous the women suffering not at
all in theiEsocial standing. Hence. American
society practically opposes the Canterbury
view Of the indissoubility OF marriage. and
declares marriage to be a contract which
may be broken for various causes, leaving
to the innocent party. at least. the right to
marry again. So also. In England the
divorced within the E Established Church who
can legally remarry, show no fear OF again
entering into matrimony because OF the
theory Of Church law maintained at Canter-
bury. Neither Is it likely that the Convoca-
ton can succeed in preventing them from
carrying out such desire. II the civil law
permits their remarriage. they will marry
again when they are so minded.
So far as this matter ,cs, Professionals in
both England and the United States seem to
pay little heed to ecclesiastical law. Among
tho Roman Catholics only Is the indissolu-
bility OF marriage accepted as a religious
| obligation. Never was our society OF fashion
80 tolerant OF divorc, as 1t Is now.
Alliance Legislation.
The Hon. JOHN GRIFFIN CARLISLE IL not
~ hn cictar thot no, ,yiI tnI hn