Evening star., 1901-10-04
BISHOPS ACCEPT IT
Report of Committee on Marginal
Scriptural Readings.
HOUSE OF DEPUTIES TO CONCUR
Heated Discussion Expected on
Divorce Question at Frisco.
THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO. October 4-The house
of bishops of the Episcopal triennial con-
vention has, by a vote of II to II, decided
to accept the report of the committee ap-
pointed at the last convention to report on
the marginal readings that may be substi-
tuted for the present readings of the Scrip
ture. With the concurrence of the house
of deputies the action of the bishops will
become a canon of the church of America.
The resolution in full reads:
Resolved, the house of deputies concur
ring, that the marginal readings for the
English version of the Old and New Testa-
ments, reported to this house by the joint
commission appointed in 1895 and reap
pointed In 1898 to make such report, be pub
Iished under the direction of said commits
sion. and are hereby allowed to be used by
ministers of this church in reading the les
from the Holy Scriptures in morning
and evening prayer.
From the attitude of the bishops on this
matter it IS supposed that a majority of
the higher house is inclined to be liberal
and less orthodox as opposed to the desires
of those churchmen of bishops, clergymen
and laity who desire high church forms
and observances and the changing of the
name from Protestant Episcopal Church to
the Catholic Church of America
DR.. CIarke's Report.
Right Rev. DR.. Clarke of Rhode Island,
who, on account of seniority Of consecra-
tion and ordination, is the presiding bishop
of the Protestant Episcopal Church. has
In his trie1nial report suggested that It
would be to the best interests of the church
If there was some other mode of selecting
presiding bishop. Under the present law
the senior bishop presides, and in this in
stance the bishop is ninety years of age.
His age prevents him from giving the at
tention to the duties of his exalted office,
and, appreciatfng his inability, he suggests
the appointment of a younger more
tive prelate. His suggestion will be acted
on at the present session of the house of
bishops.
The attitude of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in America toward divorce and the
remarriage of divorced persons is sure to
give rise to much debate during the pres
ent general convention majority report,
prepared by some of the most learned bish-
ops, clerical and lay deputies, will come up
for action, recommending that the church
adopt canon IA, preventing a minister of
the church from "SolemniZing a marriage
between any two persons unless, until
by inquiry, he shall be satisfied himself
that neither person is or has been the hus-
band or the wife of any other person then
living"
1t is a Sweeping Law
This is a sweeping law. not recognizing
even infdelity cause for divorce, and
not permitting Episcopal clergymen to SOL
emnize the marriage of an innocent party
in a divorce. The action taken by the rig
orists,' as those taking this extreme stand
are called, IS based on the ground that the
church is called upon to register it's protest
against the laXtty on the subject of divorce
that prevails in the United States. AS
there seems no way in which the church
can avoid completely in divorces of the
most scandalous character, exce.. in so far
as it may refuse to assume any =olor of re-
spOnsibility for any divorce by forbidding
the clergy TO solemnize the marriage of di-
vorced persons in any case whatever
One of the dtlemmas in which the church
legislators find themselves, say the rigor-
lists is that they must put the ban on all
divorces innocent and guilty, without dis
tinction. as there is no judicial system,
civil or ecclesiastical that will enable us
to discover the innocent party in divorce
cases.
Departure From Old Precedent.
Therefore, they argue. they must forbid
the clergy to solemnize the marriage of
any divorced person. This extreme stand
Is departure from the precedent estab-
hshed by the church in 1865. when a reso-
luton was adopted authorizing the solem-
nization Of the marriage of an innocent
party to a divorce when the cause in
fidelity. The opponents of the radical idea
assert that their position is based on the
words of Christ as given in Matthew XIX.
ley oppose the rigOristS the further
ground that such refusal to sofemniZe mar
riages would put stigma on marriages
which honorable and lawful; that it
".
and unholy, in the sight of the church,
that ii would ALLEVIATE church members who
have been taught to believe that innocent
parties In divorce are entitled to remarry;
that IT will weaken the influence of the
church with the American people. who may
conclude that the church is welded to me-
diaeval ideas and attempting, to be stricter
than the head Of the church itself and that
such church legislation would be in effect
repudiauon OF the teachings of the Mas
ter.
The Work Of Yesterday.
The sessions Of the convention yesterday
were devoted entirely to business. After
the announcement of the standing commit
tees a discussion of the proposed amend
ments to the constitution was begun and
continued with much earnestness until
evening. The result Of the days work was
the adoption of the first seven articles
winch were proposed in the general con-
yentiOn OF 1SJS. One of the changes made
pertains to matters of church government
Largely attended meetings of the Woman's
Auxiliary and the Periodical Club complet-
ed the days program.
Several resolutions were introduced and
referred to the committee on the prayer
book. They were in reference to a change
In the title page of the proyer book by the
Rev. B. r. W. Taylor, suggesting the inser-
tion of the words Holy Catholic Church
according to the off, before the words
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America
1t was resolved TO draw up suitable res
olutions regarding the death of the late
President Mckinley, which shall be finally
adopted by rising vote.
In accordance with Dr. Huntington's res
olution. the amendments to the constitution
were then taken up. The first resolution
covering the title, by vote of dioceses was
unanimously adopted
Article One Adopted.
DR.. Egar of central New York. moved
'the adoption Of the resolution covering the
adoption Of article one. consisting of six
sections and addressed to the house After
q long discussion article one was adopted
by the following vote: Clerical in favor of,
81 dioceses; opposed. %; divided S: lay
delegates, in favor, 80; opposed, 10; divid-
e., l.
DR.. Egar then moved the adoption of ar
ticle two. containing four sections. 1t pro-
vides for the manner OF electing diocesan
and missionary bishops. requires a priest
to have attained the age OF thirty-fye
years before conservation, and regulates
the exercises of the episcopal office by
bishops, practically as In the old constitu-
ton