The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-15
sHoly Matrimony" and eImped ime n q
tn Matrimony- Defined i'm
Several Sections.
OFFENDERS TO BE 0UTLAWED
AND CAN ONLY RE-ENTER THE
CHURCH ON ONE CONDITION.
III They Have Married a Divorced Per-
son They Must Separate from the
Party to the Second Marriage.

NEW YORK, Nov 14.-when the General
Conference of the Protestant Episcopal
Church meets in San Francisco next DC
tober. three new canons on the subject of
marriage and divorce will be placed be-
fore the body for its consideration. Should
these canons become the law of the Epis-
copal Church, through the approval of the
General Conference, then the Episcopal
Church will have pronounced it's anthema
against divorce, and more particularly
against the remarrying of divorced per-
sons while another party TO the divorce is
still in life
The subject of marriage and divorce
came in for good deal of attention at the
hands of the General Episcopal Conference
of 1898. So much, in fact, that commit
tee of twelve was appointed for the pur-
pose of taking the matter under considera-
ton and make such recommendation TO
the next conference of that body as would
pave the way for changes in the present
tenets of the church on these subjects. This
committee, after having met year ago,
when ii failed to reach an agreement look
ing toward reform, again went into session
to-day. The committee spent the greater
lem before it, At the forenoon session
p,ished. This afternoon the committee re-
sumed work. and as the members came
out at the close OF this session it was an
nounced that the conference of the COM
mittee had been adjourned sine die and
three canons dealing with the subject of
the conference had been drafted
The first canon adopted is entitled Holy
Matrimony and Impediments Thereto
The full text of this canon follows:
Section 1-Holy matrimony defined. (a)
Holy matrimony Is an estate of life, which,
for the purposes of this canon, is suffi-
GENTLY defined in the form appointed for
the solemnization of matrimony in this
church OBJ The solemnization of holy
matrimony is a service where the mutual
consent of the parties is given in the pres
ence of a minister, who then pronounces
them in the name of the Holy Trinity to
be man and Wife.
IMPLEMENTS TO MATRIMONY.
Section 2 is headed: '.Impediments to
Matrimony Defined" This section defines
the impediments of consanguinity and
affinity stated in the books of Leviticus
and Deuteronomy.
The second canon drafted deals with the
subject of the determination of Holy
Matrimony." 1t is subdivided in four sec
tons, as follows:
Section lit shall be the duty of all
ministers of this church to conform to the
civil authorities relating 10 marriage
Sec. EVERY minister who shall SOL
emnize marriage shall without delay
make such record of the same as may be
required by the law of this church and
civil authority.
"Sec. 3-No minister shall solemnize mar
rage without the presence of witnesses,
nor without witnesses to whom the parties
are personally known, except in a case in
which ii is impossible for such witnesses
to be secured. No minister shall solemnize
The marriage OF any person not identified
to his satisfaction.
Sec. 4-No minister shall solemnize
marriage between any two persons unless
nor until by inquiry. he shall have salts
fled himself that neither person has been
or Is the husband or the wife of any other
person living, unless the former marriage
was .annulled by decree OF some court of
competent jurisdiction for cause existing
before such former marriage.
While the above two canons erect new
barriers as safeguard against illegal
marriage and prohibits remarriage by any
Episcopal minister of any party
to divorce suit, whether guilty or
innocent. the third canon goes one step
farther and excludes from all means of
grace within the dispensation of the
church any divorced person who shall
have remarked and be living. husband or
wife, the case may be, while the other
party to the divorce is still in life.
MUST BE TRULY PENITENT.
This canon which, however, applies only
To the offending party of a divorce prac-
tically tends to outlaw the offender as far
as church fellowship goes, and provides
tor his readoption in the fold only on the
condition that he come truly penitent and
separate from the party to the second mar
riage. of if he should happen to be in i'm
mediate danger of death and show the
spirit of true repentance. This canon IS
subdivided into three sections, as follows:
Section mo person divorced for
causes arising after marriage, and marry
ing again during the lifetime of the other
party TO the divorce shall be admitted 10
baptism or confirmation or be received to
holy communion. except when penitent ard
separated from the other party TO the sub
sequent marriage, or when penitent and
! In immediate danger of DEATH but this
canon shall not apply TO the innocent party
In a divorce for the cause of adultery
Sec. mo person shall be denied bap-
tism or confirmation or the holy COM
nunion under this canon until after the
minister shall have given To the person
due and sufficient notice of such intended
denial and of the right of appeal there
from as hereinafter permitted.
Sec. 3.--This section provides for appeal
10 the bishop of the diocese or missionary
district, who. II he deems the cause sur
ficient. may take council with two neigh
boring bishops and decide whether there
shall be any dispensation."
The cancns in this form were unanimous
ly adopted by those taking part in the
conference. The committee, when an
pointed by the General Conference of 1885,
consisted of twelve members. Only nine
OF these members were present at the
meeting to-day. one having died and two
not having been heard from. The conf
mittes WAS made up or an equal number