Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-02

IclergVmen of Il divorced person where
the divorce was granted for any
other reason than infidelity. 1t
has been not uncompon, however,
where statutory grounds were not
pleaded in the courts, for the party
To the matter who desires To remar-
ry to assert that such was the real
Icause of the application for divorce,
that for various reasons il was not
alleged in the litigation, but that II
can be proved if the bishop will hear
the testimony. which the divorcee
asks leave to submit. This is often
heard and if convincing n dispersal
ton for the marriage granted.
Bishop Morrison in the letter just
issued announces that he has decided
not to go behind the record of the
court in any such cases. AS to
whether members of the church who
in such cases are married by justices
or others outside the church shall
be denied the communion, the bishop
leaves the question open, but quotes
the language of the canon relating to
such contingency. The letter in
full is as follows:
To the Clergy and Laity of the Do
The experience of three years i'm the
Episcopate has taught me that among
all the questions of dicipline the ques-
tions likely To cause the faithful
priest the greatest anxiety is that of
the marriage of divorced persons.
All Christians are agreed that the
growing laXity among the American
people in the matter of divorce needs
rebuke and. if possible. ought to be
checked. Our present canon is not
altogether satisfactory, but how TO
change it, in what way to make the
position of the church clearer and its
discipline more effective is n puzzling
question. The last general conven-
ton did nothing. 1t is doubtful if n
new and more stringent canon can
be passed for years TO come. 1t only
remains to put into force the can
on as ii stands. and not to nullify the
law and discredlt the sincerity and
determination of the church by grant
ing dispensation or eX parte testi-
mony when the decree of the court
has granted a divorce on other than
the ground of adultery. 1t is true
that the discipline of the church is
one thing and the decree of civil
court quite another, but the decree
of the court is published to the world.
it has been had by due process of law,
and am convinced that such in
fiuence as we might have in restrain
ing public sentiment and building up
public opinion is ieopardized when
our clergy marry divorced persons
save, as the canon allows. the inno-
cent party where the divorce was OBJ
tanned on the ground of adultery.
The bishop is frequently asked to go
back of the decree to pass judgment
on the case and to grant Il dispen-
sation. The difficulty is that he can
not cross examine both parties. sum-
mon witnesses and give an intelli-
gent opinion. The evidence must
generally be by affidavit; and only
one of the parties to the suit can
be examined. In such cases people
will sometimes make false state
ments. and in some cases subsequent
events prove the unwisdom, if not the
of the dispensation.
/. therefore. want it clearly under
stood that | viii not go back of the
decree of the court. No clergyman of
this diocese can. under the canon,
perform the marriage service in any
ease where one of the persons has
been divorced. save il be the inno-
cent party in case where the decree
granted is for the cause of adultery.
1t is true that persons find them
selves sometimes i'm most unfortunate
and pitiable situations. Our sym
pathy goes out to them. and we
would. if he could, make the situa-
ton less distressing. But we cause
suffering rather than alleviate it by
laXity. The wickedness of the world
goes unrebuled, the carelessness of
society is encouraged, the public
opinion which is training the young
is not guided. and unhappy marriages
and divorces multiply.
wish to further call your atten-
ton to section III. of Canon -, Title
ii. of the Digest. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
IF any minister of this church
shall have reasonable cause to doubt
whether person DESTROYS of being
admitted to holy baptism, or to con-
firmation, or to the holy communion.
has been married otherwise than as
the word of God and discipline of
this church allow, such minister, be-
fore receiving such person to these
ordinances, shall refer the case to
the bishop for his godly judgment
thereupon; provided, however, that
no minister shall. in any case, refuse
the sacraments to a penitent person
in imminent danger of DEATH"
In any case where a person who
has been married otherwise than as
the word of God and discipline of
this church allow" desires to receive
the sacraments, the priest is to refer
the matter to me with the written
statement of the person. and such
other information bearing on the
facts as he can secure.
In every case where clergyman is