Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-10-22
BATTBN OPPOSES
DIVORCE CANON
Says He Could Not Obey
One Section
Former Aching Rector Of st. Andrews
Church Put Himself on Record
on Divorce Question

on Divorce Question
The Rev. DR.. l.. w. Batten, rector of
st. Marks Church, New York, is WE'LL
known to Wilmington church people,
having at one time been the acting
rector Of St. Andrews Church. this
city.
DR.. Batten puts himself on record as
being opposed to the proposed EpiscO-
pal divorce canon, and says that he
could not obey one section Of it. Hel
says:
THE constitution of the Episcopal |
Church. in this country was adopted
only two years after the Constitution
Of the United States, and I'M the main
is based ON the same principles. In the
matter of representation some errors
were committed in drawing the Con-
stitution Of the United States. These
errors were later rem edied by compro !
| mise In the constitution of our,
lChurch were embodied the same errors,
but in this case no remedy was APP
piled.
Thus it happens THAT today the do
cese OF Fond du Lac, for instance
twenty-five organized parishes and
| forty-twO hundred communicates in all
-has as many votes in the lower
house at our general conventions as
the diocese Of New York with its 324
parishes and 10000 communicates. And
this diocese of Fond du Lac, where the
contributions during the last year
amounted to only s42 900. while in this
diocese S4.5OO.O0O was raised. has two
bishops, and therefore double the power
in the upper hOuse THAT the diocese of
New York has. And there is little pos
sibility that the present system will be
changed for, on the basis of equal rep
Pesentaticn, the smaller dioceses, being
the greater in number, have the power
TO oppose effectively any change in the
system OF representation which would
curtail their power i'm the general con-
vention"
DR.. Batten then commented at some
length ON the proposed change of the
name TO the Church cf America"
"This has been one Of the most hot
lily contested questions before the Gen
eral Convention, the preached said. But
we are we'll awerc that the Church, by
! simply changing its name cannot
change its character, and mat is where
a change of name might work mischief.
If we, by changing cur name and call
ing ourselves tho 'Churoh Of America,
could become the catholic church of all
America | think we would gladly have
walked TO San Francisco and begged
e or Blended knees that the change be
: made. AS Ii was, the change was not
r made. but may safely predict that this
4 same question will be brought VI
= again and probably cause a hot fight al
r future conventions.
s when we consider the simple
beauty of the title of our Church in
s England. the Church. OF England it is
not without a fond longing that We
{ might be able to- call our Church, there
), the Church Of America But ths
r. Church of England had the right tC
3. adcpt its title: we have not. hope
= with fervent heart that some time in
the future we may adopt that name
not for what our Church dreams to be
}, come. but for what il really is"
II In commenting upon the action taken
i by the convention on the divorce can
J. ons," Dr. Batten focused his atten.
:. ton on section I of the fourth canon
whidh he said. had it become the Law
;, OF the Church. he would have refuse,
L to obey. even at the risk of a Church
Z trial. and dismissal from the ministry
Of THE Church.
4; The first section of this canon read.
j. as follows:
Y No person divorced for causes arisnl
h AFTER marriage. and marrying agail
" during uhe lifetime of the other parity 3,
l. the divorce, shall be admitted to hap
y tism or confirmation or received Il
l. holy communion, except when peniten
It and separated from the other party o
t the subsequent marriage. or when peni
, tent and in immediate danger Of death
el but this canon shall not apply TO tn
p innocent party in a divorce for tn,
} cause of adultery.
v 81 would go before a Church court o
lose my Office rather than obey
r. canon like that" said DR.. Batten 81
n is clearly my business to bring thes
/; sacramento TO men. Suppose they ar
l. leading lives II shame, has the Churcl
). any right TO cast them out? II so, thei
n. the Church should ferret cut all win
;; lead sinful lives and punish them il
B: the same manner, and not single ON
any special class of offenders. II con
lel tradicts the teadhing of the New Tesla
b iment the teachings of Jesus Chris
D. and gladly as ! would obey my Chnrc
" and it's rulings. / will not do so IL Il
DO il ! have to disobey the comman
+ Of Jesus Christ, the true head of tn
Church.
Il am glad that this canon was los
q" by the lay vote in the House of Dele
gates, and hope this win be the las
r we hear of it. We recognize the evils o
It divorce. but should we strive to cure
lie by going beyond the teachings of on
N Master. Jesus Christi"