The Atlanta constitution., 1901-10-14
CHURCH IS
AGAINST DIVORCE.

San Francisco, October 9.-The action
of greatest Importance taken today by
the triennal Episcopal convention was
the adoption by the house Of bishops by
a vote of 81 to 21, of canon 80. which re-
lates to the solemniZation of marriage.
All of its provisions had previously been
argued except those contained I'm section
4. which forbade the marriage of persons
divorced for any cause not existing before
marriage.
For any cause not existing before mar
! riase Is understood to refer to such
causes as insanity. inability To execute a
contract, the existence of a living wife or
husband or like reasons which practically
render the marriage null and void. This
section has been "A bone OF contention. II
strong element In the church holding that
the remarriage of the innocent party To II
divorce granted on the ground of iniideli~
ty should not be forbidden. The bishops
have refused to accept this view of the
matter.
Marriage and Divorce Canon.
The question is by no means settled, ms
the whole subject is now to come up in
the house of deputies, where it is expect
ed to cause a protracted debate. The
canon. as finally passed by the house OF
bishops reads:
Canon thirty-six-
"Of the solemnisation of matrlmony.
T. The solemnization OF matrlmony III
this church in which the mutua! consent
of each party entering into TINS state Oh
life is given in the presence OF a minister,
who, having pronounced, in the name OF
the Holy Trinity, TO be man ana Wlfe. III
vol<es the divine blessing upon tnelr
union.
-. The requirements of the laws of the
state regarding the conditions for thS
civil contract of marriage snail IN All
cases De carefully observed before the
marriage is soiemnizsd.
-. No minister shall Solcmnlze IN"
marriage OF any person VINO - a MINOR
under the law Of the place OF mitrrlaSe'
unless the parent or guardian OIL such sncm
minor is present and consentlng. or shalI
have given written consent to the mar
riage or is permanently resident IN Tor
eign country.
riage except in the presence of at least
two witnesses, the minister, or the VII
nesscs being personally acquainted VITA
the parties. Every minister shall without
delay formally record i'm the proper regis
ter the name, age and residence OF each
party. Such record shall be signed DN
the minister who performs the ceremony
and. if practical. by the marriage, parties
and by at least two witnesses OF the mar
riage.
riage between any two persons unless
nor until by inquiry he shall have salts
fled himself. that neither person has been
person then living. Mess the loFihe.
marriage was annuled by n decree or
some civil court OF competent jurisdiction
for cause existing before such Iorhher
marriage.
The bishops have yet TO consider canon
81 providing for the discipline of persons
marrying after having been divorced.
This will also cause lively discussion
May Change Name of Church.
Another feature of the work of the
house of bishops today was the appoint
ment of committee of i've TO ACT with
similar committees of priests and lay
men. constituting a Joint committee OF
fifteen i'm considering the proposed
change i'm the name Of the church. The
committee has no power to act but is To
report its findings Al the next general
convention TO be held in Boston in 1903.
On Marriage and Divorce They Differ
San Francisco, October 1.-THE ques-
tion of marriage and divorce was before
both houses of the triennia convention
of the Episcopal church of America to-
day. The bishops adopted substitute
for the proposed canon 81 providing for
the disciplininE Of persons marrying
again after being divorced. The prlhciPal
change made by the substitute is the pro-
vision that such person may receive the
sacrament on the written consent OF
bishop.
The house of deputies began the eager
ly awaited debate on section of the pro-
posed canon 36, which virtually prohibits
the remarragc in the church of divorced
persons. The discussion Will be continued
on Monday. The only vote reached dur
ing the day was on proposed modiii-
cation of pr Huntingtons amendment
providing for determining the cause of
divorce in the case of a divorced person
applying TO be married. This was de-
fpatcd