The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-13

This Practically Prohibits Remark,
age Of Divorced Persons.
AsUBsTITUIE ADOPTED FOR CANON 81
Of Deputies.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated PreSS.)
San Francisco, Oct. 1.-THE question
of marriage and divorce was before
both houses Of the triennial conference
Of the Episcopal Church of America to-
day. The bishops adopted substitute
for the proposed Canon 81, providing
for the discipline Of persons marrying
again after being divorceed. The prin-
cipal change made by the substitute in
the provision is that such person may
receive the sacrament on the written
consent Of bishop.
The House OF Deputies began the
eagerly awaited debate Of section 4, Of
the proposed Canon 36, which virtually
prohibits the re-marriage in the church
OF divorced persons. The discussion
will be continued on Monday. The only
vote reached during the day was on a
proposed modification of DIR. Hunting
tons amendment providing for deter
mining the cause OF divorce in the case of
divorced person applying to be mar
ried. This was defeated.
Five missionary bishops were voted
for and named today by the House of
where the election must take place.
THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
The House of Deputies, on assembling
today, went into committee of the
whole on the marriage and divorce
canon. An attempt to strike out a re-
Quirement of section 8, that in recording
q marriage the clergy shall state the
age Of the parties was defeated. A re-
quirement that. when practicable, the
parish register record shall be signed by
the married parties and the witnesses
was. after much objection, retained.
Section 3 was then adopted as a
whole. This brought the argument to
article A, already adopted by the Bish-
ops, which forbids the marriage of per-
sons divorced for cause not existing be-
fore their former MARRIAGE practical
bar to the re- marriage of divorced per-
SONS by the Episcopal church.
Mr.. Lewis, of Pennsylvania, rose to
correct q misapprehen of the public
report of his canon. He explained that
1t does not propose to prevent any one
at all from being married. It proposes
only to forbid ministers of the Episco-
pal church to marry any divorced per-
son whatever, whose former husband or
wife is still living. Rev. DR.. Hunting
ton offered an amendment, intended to
except the innocent party to divorce
obtained for the cause of adultery.
When the fact is made to appear by GER
titled record from the court granting the
divorce. He supported his proposal by
an appeal to the authority of Jesus
Christ, which, he said, cannot be at
tackled except by one that knows the
higher criticism" and this could be an
H. CT fiov,
of the Huntington amendment to section
A of the canon on the solemnizing of
marriage was continued until after re-
cess, several vigorous addresses being
made.
Richard II. Battle, of North Carolina.
argued strongly for DR.. Huntington's
amendment as according with the scrip
ture and free from the charge of inn
practicability.
Thomas c. Elder, of Virginia, urged
that evidence regarding divorce should
be sought for in the entire record, rather
than in the decree of the court alone,
which would not in every case recite
the ground Of the divorce. He moved
an amendment to that effect.
DR.. Huntington approved Mr.. Elders
amendment.
Rev. DR.. Greer, of New York, cited
the fact that more divorces are granted
in this country than in all the countries
of Europe together. Every consideration
of social purity of our country, Of the
sacredness of the home and of the
teaching of Christ, led him to oppose
DIR. Huntington's amendment and to ia
vor the measure just as it came from
the Bishops.
Rev. DIR. McKim. of Washington, had
deep sympathy with the motive of the
canon as it came from the Bishops, but
he did not believe it would accomplish