The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-10-04
EPISCOPAL
TRIENNIAL
CONVENTION
Consider the Question of Di-
vOrceS Re-marrying
The Opposition Declare that
Such a Law Would Weaken
the Church.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4.--The attitud
of the Protestant Episcopal church il
America toward divorce AMI the remar
rlage Of divorced persons is sure to Civ,
rise TO much debate during the presen
general convention. A majority report
prepared by some Of the most learned
bishops, clerical and lay deputies, viii
come up for action, recommending thai
the church adopt Canon IA preventing
a minister Of the church from "solemiz'
ing marriage between any two per.
sons unless, or until by inquiry, be shall
have satisfied himself that neither per-
son has been or is the husband or wife
Of any other person then living"
This is sweeping law, not recognizing
even in fidelity as cause for divorce
and not permitting Episcopal clergymen
TO solemnize the marriage Of an inno-
cent party in divorce. The action
by the "rigorists" as those taking the ex
treme stand are called, is based on the
ground that the church is called upon to
register its protest against the laxity on
the subject of divorce that prevails in
the United States.
As stated by one of the signers of the
report, "there seems no way in which
the church can avoid completely in di
vorces Of the most scandalous character
except iD 30 far as il may refuse to as
sumo any color OF responsibility for any
divorce by forbidding the clergy to
solemnize the marriage of divorced pei
sons in any case whatever" One Of the
dlemmas IN which the church legisla-
tors find themselves, say the rigorists, is
that they must put the ban on all di-
yorces, innocent and guilty without dis
tinction as "the,e is no judicial system,
civil or ecclesiastical that will enable us
TO discover the innocent party in divorce
cases
Therefore they argue that they must
forbid the clergy to solemnize the MAJ
riage Of any divorced person.
This extreme stand is a departure
from the precedent established by the
church in 1898 when resolution was
adopted authorizing the solemnization
OF the marriage Of an innocent party to
a divorce when the cause was in6delity.
The opponents to the radical idea assert
that their position is based upon the !!
words OF Christ as given in Matthew
XIX.
They oppose the rigorists on the
further grounds that such refusal to
solemnize marriage would put a stigma
on marriages which are honorable and
lawful that it wonld create two kinds u
holy and unhoy, in the
sight OF the church; that it would
alienata church members who shave
been taught TO believe that innocen
parties in divorce are entitled 10 ie-
marry; that it will weaken the influence
Of the church with the American people
who may conclude that the church is
welded to medlseval ideas and attempt
to be stricter than the head Of the
church himself, and that such church
legislation would be in effect repudia-
tiona Of the teachings OF the master,
Right Rev. DR.. Clarke Of Rhode leland,
who, on account OF seniority Of consecra.
ton and ordination, is the presiding
bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
church, has in his triennial report sug.
gested that it would be to the best inter.
ests OF the church, ii there was some
other mode of selecting presiding
bishop.
Under the present law the senior
Bishop presides and in this instance
the Bishop is 30 years. His age prevents
him from giving the best attention to
the duties of his exalted office and appre.
ciating his inability he suggests the
Of a younger or more active
prel6te. His suggestion will be acted
on at the present session Of the House
OF Bishops.