Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-10
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.

EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
The action of greatest importance
taken yesterday by the triennial Epis-
copal convention in San Francisco was
the adoption by the House OF Bishops
by vote OF 81 to 81 OF Canon sc, which
relates to the soemnization of marriage.
All of its provisions had previously
been argued except those contained 10
section 4, which forbade the marriage of
persons divorced for any cause not
existing before marriage.
"For any clause not existing before
marriage" is understood to refer to such
causes as insanity, inability to execute
a contract, the existence OF living
wife or husband or like reasons which
practically render the marriage null
and void. This section has been bone
of contention, q strong element in the
church holding that the remarriage OF
the innocent party to divorce granted
OF the ground OF in6delity should not
be forbidden. The bishops have refus
ed to accept this view OF the matter.
The question 10 by no means settled, as
the whole subject is now TO come up In
the House of Deputies, where 1t is expec-
ed to cause q protracted debate. The
canon, as finally passed By the House
OF Bishops, reads:
Canon SO OF the solemnization OF
m Rtrimony.
/. The solemuization OF matrimoDy
10 this church, in which the mutual
consent OF each party entering into this
state OF life Is given 10 the presence oil
a minister, who, having pronounced In
the name Of Holy Trinity to be man
and wife, invokes the divine blessing
upon their union.
2. The requirements OF the laws OF
the State regarding the conditions OF
the civil contract of marriage shall in
all cases be carefully observed before
| the ID heritage is solemnized.
8. No minister shall solemniZs the
marriage of any person who Is minor
under the law OF the place OF marriage
unless the parent or guardian OF such
minor ia present and couseptiDg, or
shall have given written consent to the
marriage, or is permanently resident OF
foreign country. No minister shall
solemniZs marriage except In the pres
ence of as least two witnesses, the min
lister or the witnesses being personally
acquainted with the parties. Every
minister shall without delay formally
record ia tue proper register the name,
age and residence OF each party. Such
record shall be signed by the minister
who performs the ceremony, and, II
practicable, by the married parties, and
by at least two witnesses OF the mar
rage.
4. No minister shall solemnize mar.
rage between any two persons until,
by inquiry, be shall have satisfied him
self that neither person has been or is
the husband or the wife Of any other
person then living; unless the former
marriage was anDulled by decree OF
some civil court OF competent iurisdic-
ton for cause existing before such for.
mer marriage"
The bishops have yet to consider can
on 81, providing for the discipline OF
persons marrying after having been
divorced. This also will cause lively
discussion.
Another important feature of the
work OF the House OF Bishops yesterday
was the appointment of committee OF
FIVE, to act with similar committees OF
priests and lsymen, constituting a Joint
committee OF 10, to consider the pro-
posed change in the name OF the church.
The committee has no power to act,
but is to report it's findings at the next
general convention, TO be held 10 Bos-
ton 10 1904.
The House of Deputies adopted the
report of the Joint committee on margi-
nal readings, after agreeing to an
amendment eliminating those readings,
which are original with the committee. |
The vote on the main proposition as
amended was: Clerical-Yea, 81 do |
ceses; nay, 6; divided l. Lay-Yes, 4
dioceses nay, 6 divided, 2.
The report ss amended will now 90 |
back 70 the House OF Bishops for action |
on the amendment.
The House OF Deputies today will
take up the canon on marriage and d. |
vorce. Both houses unanimously se-
lected Boston as the place for holding |
the next triennial convention. A gen.
eral reception to the delegates was given |
last night at the Mark Hopkins Insti- |
tute OF ART. 1t was largely attended.
and was one oil the most brilliant social |
functions ever held in San Francisco.
The headquarters OF the women's |
auxiliary was thronged all day with |
strangers, as we'll as residents of the |
city, many Of whom were attracted by |
the fac display OF work exhibited by
the missions OF sill lands. The first ses-
sions of the Girls Fsiepdly Society were
held yesterday at s.. Luke's Church.