The San Francisco call., 1901-10-09
MARRIAGE
AND DIVORCE
CONSIDERED
The Episcopal Bishops
Have Question
in Hand.
Tidings of Death of
Bishop Burgess
Received.

ORROWFUL news awaited the
n House of Bishops when 1t
opened it's session yesterday
morning. A telegram announc-
4 y ing her fathers demise was re-
ceived from the daughter of the
late Right Rev. Alexander Bur-
CESS, the venerable Bishop Of Quincy.
whose death was also announced in
the House Of Deputies. Bishop Burgess
passed away at st. Adams, VT, yesterday
at the age of 50. Immediately upon re-
ceiving the sad news Bishop Dudley Of
fered prayers for the late prelate. The
following telegram was sent to Miss Caro-
ceased:
The House Of Bishops grieves with you over
the death Of your honored father. They praise
pray Him to bless and comfort you.
A committee was appointed to prepare
version of the Book Of Common Prayer
in the Swedish language. The house also
the House of Deputies providing for ad-
1ournment at p: m. on Thursday, Octo-
Der II, instead of 5 p. m, the hour pre-
viously agreed upon.
There was an interesting report from
the committee having in charge the sub
ject of general questions for the exam
ination of candidates for holy orders. The
to prepare, with the help of the professors
In the theological Seminaries, a series of
typical anu suggestive examination pa
pers for candidates for deacon's and
priests orders and to send them out to
the Bishops Of the various dioceses.
Bishops Discuss Marriage Canon.
At the afternoon session the Bishops
took up the question of marriage and di-
vorce. The discussion was over canon 36
of the solemnization of matrimony. 1t is
as follows:
The solemnization Of matrimony in this
church is service in which the mutual con-
onf Oft he rtio artar fucr f0fn zfaf Of
life is given in the presence of minister, who,
having pronounced them in the Name Of the
Holy Trinity to be man and wife, tnvokes the
divine blessing upon their union.
In the solemnization of matrimony the min
listers of this church shall be careful to ascer-
tain and to observe the law Of the State gov
ern1ng the civil contract OF marriage in the
place where the service shall be performed
No minister shall solemnize the marriage of
any person, who under the law Of the place OF
marriage is not free 70 marry without the
ent or guardian Of such minor is present and
consenting, shall have given written con-
sent to the marriage, or is permanently resi-
No minister shall solemnizs a marriage ex-
cept in the presence Of at least two witnesses,
nor in case the parties are unknown to the
minister. without the presence Of witnesses
less in the judgment of the minister 1t shall
be impracticable to obtain such witnesses.
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 cere-
parties and at least two witnesses Of the mar
riage.
No minister shall solemnize marriage be-
tween any two persons unless until by in
quiry, he shall have satisfied himself that
neither person is the husband or the wife af
any other person then living or has been the
husband the wife of any other person then
nulled by a decree Of some civil court Of COM
petent Jurisdiction for cause existing before
such former marriage.
Fourth Section Causes Warm Debate
The first three sections seemed to be
satisfactory to a majority of the mem
bers, but it was on the fourth section that
a warm debate was had The question
discussed was as to whether the church
should forbid the innocent party In a di-
vorce for inf1delity to remarry. A further
discussion will be held to-day. Canon 81
of the discipline of persons marrying after
divorce Will also be debated. 1t is as fol-
lows:
No person divorced for cause arising after
marriage. and marrying again during the life
time Of the other party to the divorce. nor any
person marrying person so divorced, shall
be admitted to baptism or confirmation or be
permitted to receive the holy communion, ex-
cept when penitent, and, If the other party to
the subsequent marriage be then living. when
separated from such other party, or when pent-
| tent and in immediate danger Of death: but
! this provision shall not apply to the innocent
| No person shall be denied baptism
/ frmation the holy communion under this
| canon until after the minister shall have given
to the person due and sufficient notice Of such
| intended denial, and OF the right OF appeal