New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-24

conflict with this teaching should be performed
by the clergy. '-+ .- 81
DR.. COLEMANs ADVANCED ATTITUDE
The most advanced position assumed by any
bishop present at the conference, so far as The
Tribune correspondent has learned. is that Of
Bishop Coleman of Delaware. He said:
My position is extremely positive. 1 stand for
the absolute indissOubity of the marriage tie.
When people married by the Episcopal
service they stand before Gods minister and
pledge themselves to accept each other for bet
ter or worse until death do them part, and the
clergymen having received their pledge. an
nOunces: What God hath Joined together. let
stances. how can divorce on any ground be de-
Tended? Under circumstances will l marry
n divorced person while the divorced wife
husband lives. 1 have gone so far. and without
hesitation. to say to a woman who sought
man, that even We're to perform the marriage
service in attempt to unite. them in matri-
mony while that mans divorced wife lives. the
woman whom had attempted to make his wife
would be. in fact. his mistress
In reply to a question Bishop Coleman said:
No. I cannot forbid the clergymen Of my
diocese to marry the so-called innocent party
] advise them not to- but so long as the law per-
mits it / cannot forbid it, And Yet who can tell
who is the innocent party? That clause leads
only TO lying. / hold that in spirit the Church
has forbidden all divorce. At the last COnven-
ton Of the Episcopal Church the House OF
bid divorce on any grounds The clergy in the
House Of Clerical and Lay Deputies expressed
similar sentiment, and only through the invok-
ing by the opponents OF the movement Of the
regua ton which requires a vote by orders"
did they succeed in defeating the wishes OF the
ecclesiastical members OF the Episcopal Church.
BY orders" you must understand, means by
diOceseS. each diocese casting q single vote for
or against regardless Of the number of dele
gates present The result. therefore like the
results Presidential elections, does not neces-
sarily represent the views of a majority present.
Next year. when We hold our convention at BOs
ton L believe that we shall triumph.
1 believe. too. that when the Episcopal Church
has had the courage 20 set the example, the
Presbyterians and Baptists. both of which or
ganiZatiOus view with alarm the growth OF the
divorce evil Will follow IT.
As to the advisabilty of trying to get the uni
form law throughout the United States. I doubt
II. / cannot but fear that the effort Will result
in a compromise which viii lower the standard
in some places. though it raises Il in others.
Could the uniform law be the law OF South
Carolina. which prohibits divorce altogether.
then, of course, I'shOuld welcome its adoption.
AGAINST DIVORCE ON ANY GROUND.
Bishop Brown Of Arkansas said.
am glad 10 say that divorce does not fire.
0uentlv occur among the white people Of Ar
kansas. l understand that this Is generally true
Of the Southern States
am among those who hold 10 the opinion
that the Church should so far as possible. dis
courage divorce upon any ground whatsoever.
Married people who cannot live together may
he allowed To separate and live apart but they
should not he permitted to remarry. and II they
do marry again they should be communicated.
II is COntended in opposition TO this view that
our Lord permitted remarriage of the innocent
partv in a divorce for the violation of the Sew
enth Commandment. But the Interpretation
upon which this contention is based will not
stand. bee use OF the fact that under the Jewish
law the guilty party IN such divorce was
stoned to death at once. and then the innocent
PARTY was free to marry because the unfaithfuI
husband or wife was dead.
Ii IS therefore, death. nor adultery. which dis
solves the marriage compact and makes re-
marriage Scriptural