The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-04
CANON LAW
CHANGES
IMPORTANT
House Of Bishops Endorse Rev,
Or. CIak's Suggestion Rig
oTous Attitude on Dlvorca.

San Francisco. oct. 4-The house OF
bishops of the Episcopal triennial conven-
tion has by a vote OF AZ TO 81 decided TO
accept the report OF the committee APP
pointed at the last convention TO report
on the marginal readings that may be-
substituted for the present readings OF
the scripture. with the concurrence OF
the house OF deputies the action of the
bishops will become a canon OF the
church of America
From the attitude of the bishops ON this
matter II is supposed that majority Of
the higher house is inclined TO be liberal
and less orthodox as opposed To the de-
slres OF those church men OF both clergy
and lsity. who desire high church forms
ana observances and the changing OF the
name from Protestant Episcopal" church
TO the American Catholic church in the
United states"
The right OF Rev DIR. Clark OF Rhode
Island. who, GA account OF seniority of
conseera tion and ordination Is the presid-
ing bishop OF the Episcopal church has In
his triennial report suggested that it
would be to the best interest OF the church
IL there was some other mode OF select
ing a presiding bishop. Under the pres
ent law the senior bishop presides and I'm
this instance the bishop il ~ Years old
Hts age prevents him from giving the
best attention 30 the duties OF his eNalt-
ed office aud apprecisting his inability he
suggests the appointment of a younger
or more active prslate. His suggestion
will be acted on at the present house OF
bishops.
The attitude os the Episcopal church
toward divorce and the remarriage of dt-
Vorced persons is sure to give rise 10
much debate during the present general
convention. A majority report prepared
by some OF the most learned bishops. cier-
icAl and lay deputies. will come up for ac-
ton. recommending that the church adopt
canon li. preventing minister or the
church from "solemni2ing a marriage be-
tween any two persons unless or until by
inquiry. ne shall have satisfied himself
that neither person has been or is hus-
baud or the wife of any other person then
living.
This Is a sweeping law, not recognizing
even infidelity as "A course for divorce, and
not permitting Episcopal clergymen to sol
emnze marriage OF an innocent party In
divorce. The action taken by the rig
orists as those taking this extreme stand
=
the church is called upon TO resister It's
protest against the laxity on the sub
iect of divorce that prevails in the United
states As stated by one OF the signers
OF the reports, there seems no way In
which the church can avoid completely
I'm divorces OF the most scandalous char
acter except in so far rs IL may refuse
10 ASSUME any color Of responsibility for
any divorced persons I'm any case what
ever.
one OF the dilemmas I'm which the
church legislators find themselves. say
the rigorists. is that they must put me
ban on all divorces, innocent and guilty,
without distinction. as there is no judi
cial system, civil or ecclesiastical that
will enable MS To discover the innocent
party i'm divorce cases Therefore, they
argue they must forbid the clergy to
soemnize the marriage OF any divorced
person.
This extreme stand Is departure from
| the precedent established by the church
i'm 1905 when a resolution was adopted au-
| thorizing the solemniza tion OF the mar
riage or an innocent party TO divorce
| where the cause was infidelity The OPP
| ponents Of the radical idea assert that
! their position is based on the words OF
! Christ as given in Matthew MIN. They
| oppose the rigorists on me further
| grounds that such refusal TO solemnize
| marriage would put a stigma ON mar
| riages which are honorable and lawful
| that it would create two kinds OF mstrl-
| mony. holy and unhoy, I'm the sight or
| the church: that II would ALLEVIATE church
| members who have been taught 10 be-
| Hevc that innocent parties In divorce are
! entitled 10 remarry: that II will weaken
J the influence OF the church with the Am
! erican people who may conclude that the
| church is welded to medieval ideas and
| attempting to he strlcter than the head
I Of the church himself and that such
| church legislation would be I'm effect a
| Reputation OF the teachings OF the mas
! ter
stopS the Cough and Works OF the Cold.