The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-04
BAN ON DIVORCES
Proposed Drastic Action Of Episcopal
Church.
ATTITUDE OF THE "RIGoRIsTS"
Movement Designed to Subdue the
Universal Fever for
Divorce.

San Francisco, Oct. 4.-The attitude of
the Portestant Episcopal church in
America toward divorce and the remar-
riage of divorced persons is sure to give
rise to much debate during the present
general convention. A majority report
prepared by some of the most learned
bishops, clerical and lay deputies, Will
come up for action, recommending that
the church adopt canon IA, preventing a
minister of the church from "solemnizing
marriage between any two persons un
less or until by inquiry he shall have
satisfied himself that neither person has
been or is the husband or the wife of any
other person then living"
This is a sweeping law. not recognizing
even infidelity as cause for divorce, and
not permitting Episcopal clergymen to
solemnize the marriage of an innocent
party in a divorce. The action taken by
the "rigorists," as those taking this 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 COM
plicity In divorces of the most scandalous
character except in so far as 1t may re-
fuse to assume any color of responsible
ity for any divorce by forbidding the
clergy to solemnize the marriage OF di-
vorced persons in any case whatever"
Must Bar All.
One of the dilemmas in which the church
| legislators find themselves, say the rigor-
lists, is that they must put the ban upon
all divorces, innocent or guilty, without
! distinction, as there is no judicial sys-
| tenn, civil or ecclesiastical, that will en-
| able us to discover the innocent party in
divorce cases" Therefore, they argue,
they must forbid the clergy to solemnize
| the marriage of any divorced person.
This extreme stand is departure from
| the precedent established by the church in
| 1903, when a resolution was adopted au-
| thorizing the solemnization of the mar
| riage of an innocent party to a divorce
| when the cause was in1delity. The op-
| ponents of the radical idea assert that
| their position is based on the words of
| Christ as given in Matthew xix. They op-
| pose the rigorists on the further grounds
| that such refusal to solemnize marriage
| would put stigma on marriages which
are honorable and lawful; that it would
create two kinds of matrimony, holy and
unholy, in the sight Of the church; that
! it would ALLEVIATE church members who
! have been taught to believe that innocent
parties in divorce are entitled to remarry;
! that it will weaken the influence of the
| church with the American people, who
may conclude that the church is welded
to medieval ideas and attempting to be
stricter than the head of the church him
| self, and that such church legislation
would be in effect a reputation of the
teachings of the Master.
New Marginal Readings.
The house Of bishops has by a vote of
AZ to 81 decided to accept the report of the
committee appointed at the last conven-
tion to report on the marginal readings
| that may be substituted for the present
readings of the scripture. With the con-
currence of the house of deputies, the ac-
tion Of the bishops will become a canon
of the church of America. From the at
titude Of the bishops on this matter it is
supposed that a majority Of the higher
house is inclined to be liberal and less
orthodox as opposed to the desires of those
churchmen of both clergy and laity who
desire high church forms and observances
and the changing of the name from Protes-
tant Episcopal church to the Catholic
church Of America.
The resolution in full reads:
Resolved, the house of deputies concurring,
That the marginal readings for the English
ported to this house by the joint commission
appointed in 1896 and reappointed IN 1893 to
make such report be published under the
direction Of said commission and are hereby
allowed to be used by ministers of this church
in reading the lessons from the Holy Script
ures in morning and evening prayer
bishop Too Old.
Right Rev. Dr. Clark, of Rhode Island,
who on account of seniority Of consecra-
tion and ordination is the presiding
bishop, has in his triennial report sug
gested that it would be to the best inter
other mode of selecting a presiding bishop.
Under the present law the senior bishop
presides and in this instance the bishop
is 80 years old. His age prevents him
giving the best attention to the duties of
his exalted Office and appreciating his in
ability he suggests the appointment of a
younger or more active prelate. His sug-
gestion will be acted on at the present
session of the house of bishops.
Changes in the Constitution.
A thanksgiving service was held
in Grace church, at which the missionary
offering of the women's auxiliary, amount
ing to $104,295, was presented. The ses-
sions of the convention yesterday were de-
voted SIFlcUKy TO DuSlu0SS. AltST Inc an
nouncement of the standing committees,
discussion on the proposed amendments
to the constitution was begun, and con-
tinued with much earnestness until eve
ming. The result of the days work was
the adoption of the first seven articles,
which were proposed in the general con-
vention of 1898. One of the changes
made in the old constitution pertains to
matters of church government.
Article VII. provides for the constitu-
tion of provinces in such manner and
under such conditions and with such pow
ers as shall be provided by canon of the
general conventions, provided, however,
that no diocese shall be included in a
province without it's consent. There was
no discussion upon this proposed new de-
parture in the American church, and the
vote was Immediately taken, the clerical
vote in ffty-five diocese being 81 ayes
and nays.
OF the lay delegations. Al dioceses voted
aye, no, and were divided.
The business meeting of the women's
auxiliary was held last evening in the
Alhambra theater. The report of Miss
Julia Emery, secretary of the auxiliary,
showed a total income and contributions
for three years of $1,260, ,940 and explained
in detail what had been accomplished in