The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-12
THE BISHOPS AND DIVORCE.
federation and Actual Performance OF Mar
riaEss Regarded rs Adulterous.

riaEaS Regarded rs Adulterous.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN--Sir: In my last
communication made use OF this statement:
Beyond question the root OF the evil lies In
the Bishops" | now proceed to fortifY my
argument. Take the Bishop OF Central
Pennsylvania. His Lordshp." late OF
Wyoming is an ambitious prelate. He has
the knack OF keeping himself In the
public eye. He is popular with the laity.
especially with the feminine element. and
they count for much In the Church. as also In
society. And he possesses many qualifications
Of the popular priest-a fine physique. erect
stature. manly bearing. a handsome oounte-
nance and raoy style But he 10 not popular
with his brethren OF the Episcopste. All his
nominees at tho last General Convention were
squashed by the prelatic order.
Surely. one would think this popular
Bishop would be outspoken. He will raise his
voice against the widespread system OF d.
vorce. He will cry aloud against the sinful act
OF renarrying divorced persons He will de-
nounce tho base priestly act OF joining In holy
wedock divorced man or woman. He with
burning lips and fiery tongue will seattle the
guilty person with words OF scorn. DO he dea-
con. priest or Bishop. who will by marrying a
man to divorced woman make that
man an aduterer st. tMatth XIX, 81.
worshlppers Of BaAl. there is neither voice.
nor any to answer" Not voice has he raised
not word has he uttered. not a line has he
written. against this wicked procedure in the
Churc h. the remarryinR OF divorced persons.
The sin 10 not 80 great in tho divorced man or
woman seeking remarriage as IL 10 in the
priest or Bishop who re-joins in holy matri-
mony those whom the divorce court put
ssunder." But 10 there not cause why the
Bishop Is thus silent? Verify there Is. and q
sad one. too
Out in Laramie. the late See city OF Bishop
Talbot. there are. or were a short time ago.
two factions in the Episcopal Church. and
therefore in society. each led by a woman d.
vorced and remarked! These have full church
privileges. II they wish to avail themselves OF
them. and there is no rebuke. presbyterial or
episcopal. for past misdeeds. They are rich.
they are the leaders Of society. they are parish
workers lone OF them was In the Altar Chap
ter. they are members OF the guilds. they are
visited by women In the congregation. the
Bishops wife having had the privilege OF entree
TO the homes OF both ladies'; but the congrs-
cation 10 divided. the Church rent asun-
der. the services neglected. the cathe-
dral empty and religion at q low ebb.
owing to the feuds OF these two
women. divorced but remarked. Let us hope
that things are not SO bad now. OF course
what happens In the See city where the pre-
latte chair is may be expected to prevail In
other parts OF the diocese. And so 1t did.
Divorced parties remarked. and the guilty
parties too came to the altar and were com
municated by the Bishop himself. knowing
they had been divorced for adultery. and. though
guilty. were remarked. Like priest. like peo-
pie" is an old and true provsrb. But like
Bishop. like priest" is equally true. So that
one must have foreSsen that the FIRE OF religion
would burn low In tho Diocese OF Wyoming
And it did.
The foregoing 10 bad enough. but there 10
worse to follow. For these remarked divorced
parties there was no social ostraclsm. no ex-
communication as evlldoers, no repelling from
the blessed sacrament. no rebuke even. Whyp
Well. ono reason and vary substantial rea-
son 1t will be allowed, Is that Bishop Talbot
himself married one OF tho divorced women to
the man she now calls husband! Men and
women OF the world will hold their breath and
stand aghast at this episcopal act But saints
Spare thy people, o Lord. and give not thine
he ritaRe to reproach"
Here. then. 10 Bishop OF the Church. and q
leading and popular one at that who at mar
riage csrem onies had often uttered In those
solemn tones he knows so we'll how to conjure.
those whom God has Joined together let not
man put asunder," uniting in the bonds OIL
holy matrlmony. in face OF the Prayer Book and
the Church. a person put asundor" by a dis.
reputa bio divorce court
The next instance l shall have to relate OF
Episcopal patronage Of the divorced and re-
married. and the favors bestowed upon tho
| man guilty OF adultery in the Scriptural sense
will be sadder far than this. CHURCHMAN.
T 70 ho
send me: ~ The Bishops printed balance
sheet OF money received for missionary work
| in Wyoming missionary jurisdiction. as l ar
examining the financial data OF Western do
ceses; ~ tho present address Of the former
warden OF st. Matthew'S Hall. the Rev. Ernes
F. Smith lately OF Denver. or particulars o
| his administration.