The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-11
AMENDING The CAN0NS.
EpiscopaIian Bishops Discuss I'm
portant Changes.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE CANON.
Favorable Action Taken ON Several Sec
tIons of the Proposed New Oh urch Law
Regarding Marriage aud Div orce. and
"a columbus Day Committee Apo inted

BALTIMORE, Oct. H. The house. Of
Bishops OF the trienniai general conven-
tion OF the Protestant Episcopal Church,
in secret session, was at work yesterday
on amendments to the canons, while the
deputies passed upon amendments to
the prayer book. The order OF Tho day
OF the bishops was the report of the COM
mittee on canons. The first matter taken
mp was the proposed amendment to the
canon relating to communion aims, and
after long discussion IL was adopted.
The amendment requires the clergy to
report the amount OF such aims to the
bishop OF the diocese II required by him.
The proposed canon providing for the
appointment OF sunragan bishops also
caused a great deal of discussion, aud
was finally referred to special commit
tee, consisting of Bishops Williams OF
Connecticut, Doane OF Albany, Watson
OF East Carolina and Burgess OF Qnincy.
The proposed canon provides that dio-
cesan conventions may, with the consent
OF the general convention, or during re-
cess OF the bishops and diocesan stand
ing committees, establish in each OF their
respective districts not more than two
districts as suffragan bishoprics, and for
each district elect suffragan bishop.
Such districts are not TO be severed
from their dioceses, constitute independ-
ent bishoprics, nor exercise the powers
vested in diocesan or other legislative
conventions of councils. Each suffragan
shall perform such Episcopal duties and
exercise such Episcopal authority in his
distr ct as the bis hop OF his diocese may
assign him. This rule, however, may not
bs construed as interfering with the
right OF the diocesan personally 10 OFF,
ciate or exercise jurisdiction at pleasure
anyw here in his diocese. In case tho dio-
| LAA "A A...A Al-I NJ
suffragans are to act until his successor
is appointed.
The new canon on marriage and divorce
also came in for a large share of tho
bishops attention. Action was not COM
pletcd, although a portion of 1T was act
ed upon favorably. 1t contains the fol-
| lowing provisions:
"No m mister shall solemnize the mar
rlage OF any person under eighteen years
OF age, unless the parent or guardian OF
such person be present or shall have
given written consent to the marriage.
No minister shall solmenizs a marriage
except in the presence OF at least two
witnesses. Every IN mister shall keep an
official register OF marriages, to contain
the names, brthplaces, age, residence and
conditions of all persons married, which
saall b. signed ct the time Of marriage by
each couple married, two witnesses, and
by the minister performing the ceremo-
ny.
"No minister shall solemnize the mar
riage OF any person who has a divorced
husband or wife living, IL the husband or
wife has been put away for any cause
arising after marriage; but this snail not
b. held to apply 10 the inn ocent party in
divorces for the cause of adultery or to
pnties once divorced seeking 10 b. united
again. No minister shall administer holy
baptism or tho holy communion to any
person married in violation OF the disci-
pine of the church, but the sacraments
shall not be re used to penitents in i'm
minent danger OF DEATH"
Action on this canon will be completed
today.
Bishop Scarborough OF New Jersey,
Bishop Seymour OF Springfield, Assistant
Bishop Rulison of Central Pennsylvania,
b shop Nicholson OF Milwaukee, and AS
sistant Bishop Jackson of Alabama wero
appointed committee to prepare spe-
cial service for Columbus day, October