The San Francisco call., 1901-10-15

ment have nothing on earth to do with it In
the first place. we are told that we are adopt
to say that the Roman Catholic church does
not solemnize the marriage of divorced per-
canon does not propose to allow the ministers
of our church to solemnze it. But If it is
canon, adopting ali that the Roman Catholic
church teaches the subject of the indis-
solubility of marriage God forbid: In refer
former We're annulled by the decree of court
of competent jurisdiction for cause existing be-
fore such marriage"-that is one thing that the
Roman church does and 1 think Is the very
weak point of its system. 1t does not grant
existing before ~ arriaee And upon 1o the part
Of some of our right reverend fathers in
GOD the Bishops, there has been in the last
eight or ten years a little evidence that they
were trying to do the same thing, and when
eyer they have tried to do it they have reached
which had charge of this subject took care to
see that nothing Of that Roman theory should
ever get into the canons of this church. (Crless
OF good. } That is the explanation OF that
clause.
agree that the innocent party in a divorce
tor the cause of adultery has right to re-
at least three-fourths of your committee
would have been any time in the last three
secure that right to the innocent party, pro-
vided anybody can show us any possible way
ther harm than good SOMEBODY W said e some
thing about the old canon l am willing to
talk about the old canon much as anybody
wants, but # the old canon does not give
rowing commission to anybody to do precisely
what, what ne pleases I am very much mistaken: 1
recall having a brought to a while
ago under the old canon for divorce and said:
VIII ADVISE you any way you please. because
VIII undertake to acquit you in the ecclesias-
under the old canon" Q1aughter.) We would
sfo eT very fbs wiling to bring IN canon here to
the clergy of the church If we knew how to
draw that canon. The. people who ask it don't
n 1rQ hat 01nn md doaff
think they will ever find out, and that is ex-
actly the difficulty and the necessity of the
constitution.
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE.
We are told that the number of divorces for
adultery in this country is very small. That
A gentleman, delegate on this floor. told
that he had rendered more divorces in the last
sat on the bench in the United States. I
asked him how many were based on the charge
no parties IN ths eec God FORE
bid. know them and you know them But
l L beg you to notice that they do not bring ac-
ton Tor divorce for the cause of adultery.
And 1t is to the credit of the women of Amer
lea that they do not
In forty-three out Of the forty-fve States of
perhaps a half dozen causes for divorce;
woman has moral right to select any of
this country whom you pity and / pity and
God pities, who has been treated by her hus-
oand In the most outrageous manner by the
breach of the marriage VOW, with little chill
dren dependent upon them. and it is necessary
Tor various reasons, property reasons and 9TH
er perfectly good reasons that that unfortunate
woman should go and get a divorce from her
husband; she sits down in her room. overcome
with gr1ef and horror. and she says to her.
self. II had rather die than put upon the
public records the charge of adultery against
my husband and bring that stigma upon my
own name and that of those little children
whom I have borne to him. She does not do
1t, and she ought to be admired for it. Those