The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-05
MAY PLACE BAN
ON DIVORCES
Possible Action of the Episcopal
Convention.
MAY PROHIBIT REMARRYING
PROPOSITION, HOWEVER, WILL
MEET WITH OPPOSITION.
MAY PROHIBIT REMARRYING

San Francisco, Oct. 4.-The attitude
of the Protestant Episcopal church in
America toward divorce and the re-
marriage of divorced persons is sure
to give rise to much debate during the
present general convention. A major
ity report, prepared by some of the
most learned bishops, clerical and Jay
deputies. will come up for action, rec
ommending that the church adopt
canon IA, preventing a minister of the
church from "solemnizing a marriage
between any two persons unless, or
until by inquiry, he shall have salts
fed himself that neither person has
been or is the husband or wife OF any
other person then living
This is a sweeping law, not recognize
ing even infidelity as cause for d.
vOrce, 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 extreme stand are
called, is based on the ground that the
church is called upon to register its
protest against the laXity on the sub
ject 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 divorces of the most scandalous
character except in so far as it may
refuse TO assume any COlOI u ItSHDitSl-
biIty for any divorce by fOrbidding
the clergy to solemnize the marriage
of divorced persons in any case what
ever"
One of the dilemmas in which the
churcS legislators fine themselves, say
the rigOrists. is that they must put the
ban on all Divorces, innocent and
guilty, without distinction, as there
is no judicial system. civil or ecclesi-
astical, that will enable us to discover
the innocent party in divorce cases.
Clergy is Forbidden.
Therefore, they argue, they must
forbid the clergy to sOlemnize the mar
riage of any divorced person.
This extreme stand is a departure
from the precedent established by the
church in 1903. when a resolution was
adopted authorizing the sOlemnization
Of the marriage of an innocent party
to a divorce when the cause was in
fidelity. The opponents of the radical
idea assert that their position is based
on the words of Charist. as given in
Matthew, xix.
They oppose the rigorists on the fur
Their grounds that such refusal to
solemnize marriage would put a 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 re-
marry; that it Will weaken the in
fiUence of the church with the Amer
! lean people who may conclude that the
church is welded to medieval ideas
and attempting to be -stricter than the
head of the church himself, and that
such church legislation would be in eff
feet population of the teachings Of
the Master.
ves+erdo-,,- Sassioy,
Today's deliberations of the triennial
convention of the Episcopal church of
America were mainly devoted to the
missionary field, and were of consid-
cradle popular interest.
Neither the house of bishops nor the
house of deputies remained in separate
session long this morning. A resolution
was adopted to adjourn the conven-
IS O'Clock p. m.
Invitations from representative cities
anxious to secure the next triennial
meeting were presented in behalf of
2 ttsburg, Boston, Cincinnati. Louis
vile and New Orleans. No official ac-
ton was taken, but on motion of J.
PierpOnt Morgan Committee was APP
pointed to decide where the next con-
VentiOn should be held.
/ The afternoon session was devoted
to addresses by prominent missionary
workers, and attracted a larger atten-
dance than has been present at any
I meeting of the convention since its
opening.
During the day services We're held in
St Luke'S church by the Daughters of
the King, and tonight at St. Stephen S
church the Brotherhood of st. Andrew
had a quiet hour and preparation for
holy communion