The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-11
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION
House OF Bishops Passes Canon Pro-
hibitinS the Marriage of Divorced
Persons.

San Francisco. October s.-The action
OF greatest Importance taken today by
the trienniai Episcopal Convention was
the adoption by the house OF bishops
by a vote OF - TO s1 OF Canon IS, which
relates TO the soicmnizatioa OF max~
riage. All OF it's provisions had pre-
viously been argued except those con-
tanned in Section 4. which forbade the
marriage OF persons divorced for any
cause not existing before marriage
For any cause not existing before
marriage" is understood 10 refer 20
such causes as insanity. inability to ex-l
ecute contract, the existence OF a lIv-
ing wife or husband. or like reasons
which practically render the marriage
null and void. This section has been
a bone OF contention. n strong element
in the church holding that the re-uar-
riage OF the innocent party 10 a divorce.
granted on the ground OF infiaelity
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 IL
Is expected TO cause protracted de-
bate. The canon, as finally passed by
the house of bishops, reads:
The solemnization of matrimony in
the churth. in which the mutual con-.
sent OF each party entering into this
state of life is given IN the presence or
minister VINO, having pronounced
them in the name OF the Holy Trinity
TO be man and wife, invokes the Divine
blessing upon their union.
The requirements OF the laws OF the
state regarding the conditions for the
civil contract OF marriage shall In ali
cases be carefully observed. before the
marriage is solemniZed.
NO minister shall solemnize the mar
riage of any person VINO Is a minor
under the law OF the place OF marriage
unless the parent or guardian OF such
minor is present and consenttng. or
shall have given writtensconsent To the
marriage. or is permanently resident
in a foreign country. No minister shall
solemnize a marriage except In the
presence of at least two witnesses. the
minister or the witnesses being person
ally 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 signed by the minister
who performs the ceremony. and X
practicable by the married parties. and
by at least two witnesses OF the mar
riage.
mo minister shall solemniZe a mar
riage between any two persons unless,
nor until by inquiry, he shall have sat
isfied himself that neither person has
been or is the husband, or the Wife or
any other person then living; unless
the former marriage was annulled by
a decree of some civil court or compe-
tent jurisdiction for cause existing be-
fore such former marriage"
The bishops have yet to consideK
Canon 81, providing for the disctpiin
of persons marrying after having been
divorced. This also will cause lively
discussion. Another important feature
of the work of the house OF bishops to-
day was the appointment OF commit
tee of five to act with similar coInmft-
tees of priests and laymen. constituting
joint committee OF fifteen, to consider.
the proposed change in the name o5 the
church. The committee has no lover
to act, but is to report its hndinEs at
the next general convention to be held
in Boston in 1904.
At the session OF the house of depu-
ties ]. Pierpont Morgan of the joint
committee on place Of meeting OF the
next general convention. reported In
favor of the selection OF Boston, and
so moved. the house OF bishops concur
ring. The motion was unanimously
adopted by the deputies.
The special committee submitted res
olutions in regard TO the death OF Pres
ident Mckinley which were adopted By
| IL standing vote. The resolutions fol-
lows:
Resolved. That the general conven-
| ton OF the Protestant Episcopal church
meeting in the city of San Francisco,
| hereby records it's feeling OF deep re-
| gret that so dastardly a crime resulted
| in the death of our chief magistrate
| William Mckinley. and expression OF
hope that this common SORROW may
unite our people in a bond that may
| tend more and more to exalt our gov
ernment in truth and justice.
That the guilt OF The assassinatfon
| is aggravated by the fact that IL fs a
menace to the American idea Of law
| and respect for the country's rulers
That We appreciate the conscientious
ability of his public service, the seauty
| of his private life and the noble sense
| OF his great faith.
BE IL resolved further that a copy
of these resolutions De forwarded to
Mrs Mckinley and to the congress OF
| the United States
After a brief discussion Of a proposed
amendment OF an explanatory nature.
| to Section OF Canon 10, the matter OF
| marginal readings was taken up.
The discussion was continued without
| action until recess.
|