The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-10-10
PASSED BY The BISHOPS.
EPISCOPAL CANON RELATING TO
SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRTAGE.
vote stood 81 to 21-Whole Subject Now
to Come Before the House of Deputies
Text OF tho Canon as Adopted by the
Consider Proposed Change i'm Namo of
the Church.

San Francisco, Oct. 9.-The action of
greatest Importance taken to-day
by the triennial Episcopal convention,
was the adoption by the house of bish-
ops by vote of 81 to 21. of canon 36,
which relates to the solemnizatfon of
marriage All Of its provisions had
previously been argued except those
contained in section 4, which forbade
the marriage of persons divorced for
any cause not existing before marriage.
For any cause not existing before
marriage" is understood to refer to
such causes as insanity, inability to
execute a contract, the existence Of
living wife or husband, or like reasons
which practically render the marriage
null and void. This section has been
a bone of contention strong element
in the church holding that the remar-
riage of the innocent party to divorce,
granted on the ground of infidelity
should not be forbidden The bishops
have refused to accept this view of
the matter.
The question is by no means settled,
as the whole subject Is now to come up
in the house of deputies where it is ex-
The cannon, as finally passed by the
house of bishops, reads:
Canon 36-of the colemnization of
matrimony.
1.-THE solemnization of matrimony
In this church in which the mutual
consent of each party entering into TINS
state of life is given in the presence of
a minister who. having pronounced, in
the name of the Holy Trinity to be man
and wife, invokes the divine blessing
upon their union.
"II-The requirements Of the law OF
the state regarding the conditions for
the civil contract Of marriage shall In
all cases be carefully observed before
the marriage is solemnized.
"JII-No minister shall solemnize the
marriage of any person who is minor
under the law of the place of marriage,
unless the parent or guardian or such
minor is present and consentlng, or
shall have given written consent to the
marriage, or is permanently resident
in a foreign country. No minister
shall solemnize marriage except III
the presence of at least two witnesses,
the minister or the witnesses being per-
sonally acquainted with the partles.
Every minister shall without delay for
mally record the proper with reglstef
the name. age and residence OF each
marty. Such record shall be signed by
ibe minister who performs the cere-
,nony. and If practicable. by the mar
ried parties, and by at least two wit
nesses, of the marriage.
"TV-No minister shall solemnize
hotwaap nnv two DerSOnS un-
less nor until by inquiry, he shall have
satisfied himself that neither person
has been or is the husband, or the wire
of any other person then living; uh-
less the former marriage was annulied
bv a decree of some civil court of COM
petent jurisdiction for cause existing
before such former marriage
The bishops have yet te consider
canon 81. providing for the discipline
of persons marrying after having been
divorced. This also VIII cause lively
discussion.
Another important feature of the
work of the house of bishops to-day
was the appointment of a committee OF
five, to act with similar committees OF
priests and laymen, constituting
Joint committee of fifteen, to consider
the proposed change in the name or
the church. The committee has no pow
er to act, but is to report its findings
at the next general convention to be
held in Boston in 1904.
The house of deputies adopted the
report of the joint committee on mar
ginal readings, after agreeing to an