Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-01
niSuoP POTTER o. DIVORCE.
Apparent AIIus'on tn II Recent New
York Case.
(New York TriDune)

DIX aN~t.
CNcw York TriDune)
The first days session Of The annual
convention Of the New York Diocese Of
the Protestant Episcopal Church was
marked by several points Of great in
terest. Bishop Potter took a stand firmly
upon the question Of divorce; an oppose
ton ticket 10 the Standing Committee
was placed i'm nomination, and, perhaps
not least worthy of note, the convention
seized the OCCASION TO pass a resolution
expressive of its regard for Admiral
Dewey.
Bishop Potter in his address, after
touching upon various matters, took up
the question OF divorce. His remarks on
this topic excited unusual interest, mas
much as he has been quoted as opposing
the changes in the divorce canon pro-
posed last year. In his speech yesterday
Bishop Potter declared that the evil OF
divorce had grown so greatly OF late
that a stringent canon, such as had been
proposed. might be the only sale remedy,
but he urged that more thorough and
far-reaching remedy lay in the greater
care preliminary 70 marriage than could
he exercised by all connected with tho
Church. Among other things Bishop Pot
ter said:
our General Convention. IT its last ses-
sion gave as you know. considerable at
teution 70 the proposed amendments OF
our very inadequate canon Gas il seems
TO mel of marriage and divorce. Its
councils were. as YOU are aware. divided
uuon the question whether that canon
could best be amended by Withdrawing
from it all authorization Of remarrlage,
on by making more stringent the condl-
lions under which 1t should be competent
tor the Ordinary 10 sanction with the
authority Of these words the remarriage
II the innocent party TO divorce Inc
whole subject has gained new aspect
from events 10 which I need not more
particularly refer here, which have un-
doubtedly awakened I'm all sober-minded
Christian people a profound sense OF
alarm; and the consensus OF opinion
among them as 20 the necessity Of legis-
Iation which shall prohibit the remar-
riage OF divorced persons, under any cir
cuustanccs whatever, has greatly
wldened and deepened.
DIVERSE DIVORCE LAWS.
1 am by no means sure that such
conclusion IS not the wisest that we may
reach at present
These last che Institutions and abll-
so lightly regarded that now. at length,
the least thoughtful among MS are be-
ginning 10 realize the vicious tendencies
I'm some forty or fifty different
commonwealths Of our composite and
contradictory legislation. ana 10 re-
coenize that the facility with which
the marriage relation may be
taken on and put of is menace to
the foundations Of society and the jest
Of the civilized world
II would be well that the Church should
meet such n situation with stern front,
and with legislation which. so far as she
is concerned. will make divorce iucreas-
ingly difficult. if not impossible. Bat she
must do q great deal more than that
IL will be quite lin vain unless We see 10
IL that those reasonable precautions or
forethought. inquiry, publicity and of
intellirent understanding OF the Obiga-
lions to be assumed which once obtained,
havo preceded IT. These We're wise
provisions of our fathers times,
but that spirit OF indiyidualism,
which. in the case Of the au-
thorltv Of the Church would brook
none OF these things has swept them
away. and q man and wOman-a boy
and girl indeed. 10 all intents and pur-
poses-may walk into the study Of
priest in this diocese and be married out
of hand without any license from the
State or warning from the Church, or any
other preliminary, in fact. that such as
consists-must l say it?-in the some-
times very Indifferent discretion Of the
minister Believe me, no canon Of mar
riage which does not reach back a good
way in a Precautionary discretion Will
be here Of any substantial avail and IL
we are aiming as | hope We may be, to
set higher standard here hope II may
be wide enough at its base 20 include as
meets of this whole subject, which in our
current discussions OF it are largely
overlooked.