Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-07
AFTER DIVORCE. NO WfDLOCK.
Episcopal Church Will Undoubtedly Soon
Take This Decided Stand.

New York. oct. s. tStrong indications
We're given Wednesday. that the com
mittee appointed hy the last g"nerai
convention of the Protestant Episcopal
church 10 consider and report upon the
question Of marriage and divorce VIII
recommend for adoption u new canon
absolutely prohibiting the remarriagc
of divorced PERSONS
All but one of the members of this
committee met in the y"stry room of
Trinity chapel. in West twenty-lifth
street. and devoted the entire day to Il
secret discussion of the new canon.
No meeting of the committee had
been held since last May when the 18th
session was held ana subcommittee
appointed to consider various branches
Of the question The committee was
appointed in 1898 under Il resolution Of
fered in the general convention by Mr..
Stetson. 1t was directed to report on
the entire subject matter" of marriage
and divorce to the convention of 1901
in san Francisco and to nave its report
printed and circulated on or before
December 81. 1900
There had been general discussion
Of the question Of divorce III the con
Vcntion before the committee was ap-
pointed ana several resolutions We're
offered for the purpose Of Fastening
uniformity of marriage and diVorce
legislation in the several states. TheS
resolutions were referred To the com
mittee hut Mr.. Lewis. its secretary,
said, last night that the committe"
would not take up the subject Of legiS-
latiOn at all.
we have been discussing the prnci-
pies involved" said Mr.. Lewis. W.
have made progress at each session,
ana only three more session 81 the
committee viii be held our repoI
viii rot be made public until Decemhcr
n. 1900. and not a line Of tho proposed
canon has been written The question
is very complicated Without taking
any definite action the committee al
journed to meet at Trinity chapel on
Feb Il. 1900.
There is no difference of opinion
anon gus We are entirely harnnhi-
Gus: don't make any mistake about
that
This remark Of the secretary Of tin
committee gave what is believed to h.
the key If its deliberations and a fore
shadowing of it's actions. VI tn" com
mittcc is harmonious. il must agree
with it's chairman, d.. Dix. Whose
views are known This leads to th'
conclusion that Bishop Potter. in hi
speech before the Diocesan convention
last week predicted the final c"ao"'
sions Of the committee. Bishop Potter
spoke directly Of what steps tho
church ought to take. He said On thi,
point:
"Jurists ana churchmon have agreed i
the opinion that our only safe canon l.
one in which the church refuses re
marriage to persons divorced for any
causes arising after marriage, absolutely
and universally
The Rev. Or. Dix, as chairman Of
committee appointed To consider thi
portion of the bishops address, approve,
the bishops stand. He said:
I'VE are reaching a point M whici
alarm is daily growing greater. ana Ills
gust and Indignation are more widr'.
felt: a point AT which the opinion is gain
ing ground to which the bishop has re
shall prohibit the remarriagc Of divorce
persons under any circumstance VIVA;
ever"
Coming from the chairman Of the com
mittee which will report to the Seaer.
convention. and which has now prac;i
caly concluded its lahorS. these words.
the opinion of many churchmen. ca
nave but one meaning-that the r"m1l
rage oil divorced persons Will he IOrbit
den altogether. The present canon
marriage and divorce makes provisir
t,lat the innocent party in a divorce #
Ile cause OF adultery or parties once Il
porced and seeking to be again unite
can be married,