Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-11-15
A BLOW At DIVORGEES
Episcopal Committee Adopts
Strong Canons.
DONE TO CHECK REMARRIAGEs.
Strong barriers VIII BE Erected if the
General Episcopal Convention In San
Francisco Next October Adopts Them.
Points In tile Canon.

New York. Nov. 15-When the gem
lral conference of the Protestant
Episcopal church meets in San Fran
cisco next October, three new eanons
Oh the subject Of marriage and divorce
will be placed before the body for its
consideration.
At the general Episcopal conference
of 1898 n committee of II was APP
pointed for the purpose of taking the
matter under consideration and make
such recommendation to the next con-
ference of that body us would pave
the way for changes in the present
tenets Of the church on thes sub
jeets.
This committee, after having met
year ago. when they failed to reach
an agreement looking toward reform,
again went into session and finally
reached an agreement.
The first canon adopted is entitled
Holy matrimony and impediments
thereto" The full text of this canon
Is as follows:
Section Holy matrimony de-
fined. (a) Holy matrimony is an es-
tate of life which for the purposes of
this canon is sufficiently defined, in
the form appointed for the solemniza-
ton of matrimony In this church Oh
The solemnization of holy matrimony
Is Il service where the mutual consent
of the parties is given in the presence
of minister, who then pronounces
them in the name of the Holy Trinity
to be man and wife.
Section 2-Impediments to matri-
mony defined.
The section defines the impediments
of eonsanguinity and affinity as stated
in the books of Leyitieus and Deut-
eronomy.
The second canon drafted deals with
the subject of the solemnization of
holy matrimony.
1t is sub-divided in four sections. as
follows:
Section lit shall be the duty of all
ministers of this church to conform
to the civil authorities relating to mar
rage.
Section 2--Every minister who shall
solemnize a marriage shall without de-
lay make such record of same as may
be required by the law of this church
and civil authority.
Section 3-=No minister shall solem-
nize marriage without the presence of
witnesses nor without witnesses to
whom the parties are personally
known, except i'll a case in which it
is Impossible for such witnesses to be
secured. No minister shall solemnize
the marriage of any person not identi.
fled to his satisfaction.
Section mo minister shall solem.
nize marriage between any two per
sons unless, nor until, by inquiry. he
shall have satisfied himself that Meth
er person has been or is the husband
or the Wife of any other person liv-
ing, unless the former marriage was
annulled by decree of some court of
competent jurisdiction for cause ex-
listing before such former marriage.
The third canon is sub-divided into
three sections, as follows:
Section mo person divorced for
causes arising after marriage and mar
rying again during the lifetime of the
other party to the divorce shall be
admitted to baptism, or confirmation.
or received to holy communion, except
when penitent and separated from the
other party to the subsequent mar
fiage. or when penitent and in immi-
nent danger of death, but this canon
shall not apply to the innocent party
in n divorce for the cause of adultery.
Section 2-No person shall be denied
baptism or confirmation or the holy
communion under this canon until af-
ter the minister shall have given to
the person due and sufficient notice
of such intended denial and of the
right of appeal therefrom as here and
after permitted.
Section 3-This section provides for
appeal to bishop of the diocese, who.
If he deems the cause sufficient. may
take counsel With two neighboring
bishops and decide whether there
shall be any dispensation
The canons in this form were unan.
imously adopted by those present.
Only nine of the members were prsnt
at the meeting, one having died and
two having been heard from.
Those present We're the Rev. Nor
gan Dix. rector of Trinity parish: the
Rev. DR.. Hoffman, of New York: the
Rev. DIR. Mann, of St Louis: Rev. DR.
Fulton, of Philadelphia, and Rev. DR.
Eccleston, of Baltimore. The Law
members of the committee who We're
present were Francis A. Lewis. Of
Philadelphia; Francis L. Stetson. of
New York Charles Fl. Stanley. Of
Washington, and Judge f. G. Brad
ford, of Wilmington. Del,