The age-herald., 1901-10-10
No Person Gan Re-MarTy Un- less Cause Existed Before
 First Marriage
HOUSE OF DEPUTIES TO ACT
Question Will Create Lively Dlscuss- ion-Boston Selected as the Next Place of Meet
 ing.

San Francisco, October s.-The action of greatest importance taken today by the triennial Episcopal convention was the adoption by the House of Bishops by a vote of S7 to Al of canon 86 which relates to the solemnization of marriage All of It's provisions had previously been argued except those contained in section four. which forbade the marriage of persons divorced for any cause not existing be- fore marriage
 For any cause not existing before marriage" Is understood to refer to such causes as insanity, inability to execute contract, the existence of a living wife or husband. or like reasons, which prac- tically render the marriage null and void. This section has been a bone of conten- ton. strong element in the church hold ing that the remarriage of the innocent person to a divorce granted on the ground of in1delity 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 1t is expected to cause protracted debate. The canon as finally passed by the House of Bishops | reads:
 | SoIemnIzatIon of MatrImony. f l "Canon 36. Of the soiemnization of matrfmony The solemnization of matrimony in this church in which the mutual consent of each party entering into this state of 1 life Is given in the presence of a minister. who having pronounced. in the name ot the Holy Trinity to be man and wife, in- vokes the divine blessing upon their union.
 Second. The requirements of the laws of the State regarding the conditions for the civil contract of marriage shall in all cases be carefully observed before the marriage Is solemnized.
 Third. No minister shaii soIemnize the marriage of any person who is minor under the law of the place of mar riage unless the parent or guardian of
 
 shall have given written consent to the marriage. or Is permanently resident in a foreign country.
 Minister Must Investigate.
 "No minister shall solemnize marriage except in the presence of at least two witnesses. the minister or the witnesses being personally acquainted with the par ties Every minister shall without delay formally record in the proper register the name age and residence of each party. Such record shall be signed by the minister who performs the ceremony and if practical, by the married parties and by at least two witnesses of the marriage.
 Fourth. No minister shall solemnize g. marriage between any two persons un- less. nor until by inquiry he shall have satisfied himself that neither person has been or is the husband or wife of any other person then living. unless the for mer marriage was annuiled by a oecree of some civil court of competent jurisdic- ton for cause existing before such former marriage"
 The bishops have yet to consider canon 37 providing for the discipline of persons marrying after having been divorced. | This will also cause lively discussion. | Another feature of the work of the | House of Bishops today was the appoint ment of a committee of five to act with | with similar committee of priests and | law men, constituting joint committee of fifteen. in considering the proposed change in the name of the church. The committee has no power to act but is to report the finding at the next general convention to be held in Boston in 1904 Marginal Readings. The house of deputies adopted the re- port of the joint committee on marginal readings after agreeing to an amend ment eliminating those readings which are original with the committee.
 The vote on the main proposition as amended was:
 Clerical. aye 52 dioceses; nay dioceses: divided,
 Lay. aye 4s; diocese nay, 6; dioceses di- vided 2.
 The report as amended will go back to the House of Bishops for aclion on the amendment.
 The house of deputies will tomorrow take up the canon on marriage and divorce. sft
 Both houses unanimously selected Bos- ton as the place for holding the next triennial convention.