Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-10
ne RITES Of marriage
CONSIDERED BY BISHOPS.
IN TEXT or CANON rHuRTY-sIx
a. ADOPTED ny THE Up
PER HOUSE
nFar FURTHER DISCUSSION
Will he HAD-toTE o> NAN
sINAI READINGS.

AN FRANCISCO. October s.-The
Zen Of greatest Importance taken to-
~ ~ the trienniai Episcopal eonven-
.-5s was the adoption by the House
Bishops. by a vote of 81 to Il, OF
canon 30. which relates 10 the solemn
zion OF marriage. All OF its pre-
IONS had previously been argued
.7~ept those contained in section four.
obich forbade the marriage Of persons
vareed for any cause not existing be-
fore marriage.
Fer any cause not existing before
uarfiage." is understood 90 refer TO
.1cb causes as insanity. inability to ex-
lte a contract the existence OF
wing wife or husband, or Ike rea-
IONS which practically render the mar
age null and void This section has
bssn a bone OF contention. a strong
cement in the church holding that the
marriage of the innocent party to
divorce. granted on the ground Of in
fidelity. 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 10
expected to cause a protracted debate.
The Canon as finally passed by the
house of Bishops, reads:
Canon thirty the solemniza-
ton of matrimony:
I. The solemnization of matrimony
in this church, in which the mutual
consent of each party entering into
this State of life is given in the pres
enee of a minister who, having pro-
bounced, in the name of the Holy Trim
is. to be man and wife. invokes the
divine blessing upon this union.
IL 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.
III. No minister shall solemnize the
marriage of any person who is a minor
under the law of the place of marriage.
unless the parent or guardian of such
minor is present and consenting, or
shall have given written consent to
the marriage, or Is permanently resi-
dent in foreign country. No minis
tor shall solemnize marriage except
in the presence of at least two wit
resses, the minister or the witnesses
being personally acquainted with the
parties. Every minister shall without
delay formally record in the proper
register the name, age and residence Of
each party. Such record shall be sign
Ell by the minister who performs the
ceremony; and if practicable by the
married parties, and by at least two
witnesses of the marriage.
Nv. No minister shall solemnize a
marriage between any two persons un-
less, nor. until by inquiry he shall
have satisfied himself that neither per-
son has. been or is the husband, or wife
Of any other person then living: unless
the former marriage was annulled by a
decree Of some civil court Of competent
jurisdiction for cause existing before
such former marriage
The bishops have yet to consider
Canon 81 f<>v dfc,of y,lip 10
of persons marrying after having been
"iYorced This also will cause "a lively
discussions
Another important feature Iof the
work of the house of Bishops to-day
was the appointment of a committee OF
five to act with similar committees OF
priests and laymen constituting joint
committee of fifteen to consider the
proposed change in the name of the
church. The committee has no power
to act, but is to report its findings at
the next general convention TO be held
in Boston in 1904
The House of Deputies adopted the
report of the joint committee on mar
sinal readings. after agreeing to an
amendment eliminating those reading
which are original with the comnait-
tee.
The vote on the main proposition, as
amended, was
Clerical-Aye, 50 dioceses nay, g.;
divided. /.
Lay-Aye, as dioceses; nay. 6; divid-
ed, ,.
The report as amended will now go
back to the House of Bishops for ac-
ton on the amendment.
The House of Deputies tomorrow
will take up the Canon on marriage
and divorce.
Both houses unanimously selected
boston as the place for holding the
next triennial convention.
general reception TO the delegates
was given tonight at the Mark Hop
kins Institute OF Art 1t was largely
attended and was one of the most brill
liant social functions ever held in this
city.
The headquarters of the woman's
auxiliarv uyoe <horonuod all dav with