The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-30
Divorce and Sunday Observance.


eminent. or hanging their heads for shame?
Divorce and Sunday Observance.
The reslection of the Standing Committee
of this diocese OF the Episcopal Church by
large majority OF the Diocesan Conven-
ton, on Thursday, was an expected, even
an inevitable, result. All except very few
OF the lay delegates supported that side OF
the controversy growing out Of the orriina-
ton OF DIR. BRIGGS, the strength Of the
opposing party being in the clergy. Every
thing which is provocative of dispute is
always avoided studiouslv in the diocese
of New York, but the circumstance that
about eighty OF the clergy put themselves
in the opposition is Indicative of the pres
ence OF a powerful and uncompromising
minority.
The somewhat ambiguous references to
the subject OF divorce in Bishop PorrER's
address induced a report on the question
from the Rev. DR.. DIX, which was more di-
rect and outspoken. Instead of attacking
the general American system OF divorce leg
islation, based as it is on the Protestant the
DRY OF the dssolubilitv OF marriage, 1t do
nounced the practice OF fashionable society
whose leaders are Episcopalians and there
fore amenable to its Church discipline
for giving countenance to divorces in
violation of the Episcopal canon and
to new relations contrary to Gods Word
and stigmatized as adulterous by our Lord
JESUS CHRIST" Obviously, the obligation
OF the Episcopal Church is first to give at
tention to the offenders within its own fold
and under its immediate jurisdiction, both
those who secure divorces in defiance OF
its canon and contract new matrimonial
unions which in its eye are adulterous. and
those who give social justification 10 the
proceedings. If by the stern reprobation
and sharp discipline Of the Church that So
ciety could be made to refuse liberation
and recognition OF such divorces and
marriages, they would be put UNI
der ban OF fashion which would
tend to deter all men and women valung
Its countenance from obtaining and con-
tracing them, and, by making them unfash-
ionable, the dete rring influence would
extend widely OF late years such divorces
and marriages have been distinctly fash
ionable. and the influence making them 80
has proceeded most powerfully from the
circle of fashion in the diocese Of New York.
here nave inc uOSt conspicuous
examples Of fragrant violation Of the mar
riage and divorce canon OF the Episcopal
Church, and they have occurred. to use the
words Of the report of the Rev. Dr. DIX, in
"what is known as the higher classes
As We said yesterday. however, the sug.
gestion o: Bishop PorrER's address. re-
peated in this report, that Legislation is AT
visable which shall prohibit the remarriage
ofdivorced persons under any circumstances
whatever" does not meet the case, for
reasonably, II violation OF more liberia
canon occurs so frequently, no canou
fully prohibitive could prevent it. but
might rather stimulate its commission, 50
long as the civil law permits divorce AMI
remarrlage. Bishop POTTER and DR.. DIX
must have referred to canon law only fol-
obviously. civil legislation in this country
will never make marriage indssouble, the
tendency In States all over the Christian
world being rather in the other direction
or to the treatment of it as a civil contract
for the purposes of the law. Here in thi:
country, with the exception of South Caro-
lima, divorce is allowed by every State, anc
by all the States except New York for otheI
causes than adultery alone. Formerly
q
deterrent from divorces and remar riage
by putting them under reproach; but now
with society c6untenancing both divorce 70
any cause and the taking OF new mates, anC
the Episcopal Church practically unable t
enforce its law against that social senti
ment, they have become more frequent AM
have risen to complete reputability.
DR.. Dxs report also repudiated tn
growing disregard OF the Lords Day and it,
devotion TO bicycle riding. excursions
golf, tennis. large dinners and social recep
tions." with the consequence Of wild
neglect OF public worship" Its resolution
spoke Of the decay in the observance o
the Lords Day." decay confirmed h.
general observation. There has been o
recent years very radical change in tn,
treatment of Sunday In America as com
pared with the customs formerly preva
lent throughout the country. Even clergy
men now indulge In bicycle riding, golf
tennis, large dinners and social receptions
on Sunday and commend the praC
tice. The Sabbatical observance o
the day, or the "Puritanical Sunday,
to use the description by the Rev. Dl
RIcHEY in his remarks on the report, ha
passed away pretty effectually even in tn
strictest New England communities. Eve
the law of this State is more exacting as /
Sunday observance than is the privat
practice Of a large part OF the religious pull
lic. They indulge in the amusement
referred to In the report and In man