Evening journal., 1903-10-17
RECTOR FINDS
CLOSED DIOCESE
Bishop Scarborough Rejects
Minister Who Welded
a Divorce
CASE MAY co TO THE COURTS

Camden, N. j., oct. 17.-Threaten-
ing before peace is restored to attract
the attention OF the entire Episcopal
Church in America and to drag into
courts of law the head Of the diocese
of New Jersey, a dissension has arisen
in a little house of worship at Pal
myra, near here. Dividing the con-
gregation END setting up a conflict be-
tween the vestry and Bishop John
Scarborough, of Trenton, the point at
issue involves one of the most dis
puted canons of the Episcopal Church.
that pertaining to divorce among the
clergy
Rev. George F. Kettell, a young
clergyman OF Baltimore, called by a
unanimous vote of the vestry to Christ
Protestant Episcopal Church of Pal
myra. is refused recognition by Bishop
Scarborough because his bride of a
few months was a divorced woman,
the former wife of a clergyman, from
whom she obtained decree of separa-
tion on the grounds of inhdelity.
The majority of the congregation
and of the vestry of the little church
are opposed to the bishops views,
which are declared to be uncanonical,
and are determined TO appeal to the
courts to have Mr.. Kettell instituted
in the parish in spite Of all opposition
In the legal battle which will ensue K
is said the best ecclesiastical lawyers
obtainable will be arrayed on the side
of the young minister, and the case
will be one noteworthy in the annals
Of the church.
The story of Mr.. Kettells call to the
Palmyra pastorate and his subsequent
difficulty with Bishop Scarborough is
an interesting one in many particu-
lars, not the least OF which is the fact
that the bishop himself first recon-
mended him to the congregation. At
the time, however. the young man was
unmarried. and the Venerable prelate
spoke Of him as an eloquent and able
minister capable in every way of fill
ing the vacant pulpit
Three months later, when Mr.. Ket-
tell presented his letters dismissory
from the Right Rev. William Paret,
bishop Of the Protestant Episcopal Di-
ocese of Maryland. Bishop Scarborough
was hcrrified to learn that the young
man had welded a divorcee. He re-
fused accept the letters. took back
fused to accept the letters. took back
Kettell pleaded in vain 20 have his
call approved.
The views of Bishop Scarborough
on the question of divorce are wei
known, and his oppositi91P-;..5,- - clergy.
men or laymen s.avmg anything to do
with l.e avorce courts is tnyielding.
9ils opposition applies also to the
/ marriage of ministers to Divorces
whether they are the innocent parties
of the separation or not
Rev. Kettell preached several SER
mons in the Palmyra church a short
time ago and the congregation was de-
lighted with his discourses.
Pleased at the impression he had
created Mr.. Kettell said he would ac-
cept the call First, however" he
said, Il wish to see the vestry in pri-
vate. have a matter to disclose, OF
which you are not yet aware and which
p may affect your invitation" Then he
: told them of his marriage in the latter
part of July TO Mrs. Bessie Broughton
Frankel, the divorced wife Of the Rev,
e Clarence Frankel. formerly of St
, Louis. She had obtained separation
e from her husband on the charge of in
/, fidelity he told them, in decree
, handed down by the Dakota courts and
o he married her in Baltimore only a
y few weeks after he had met Bishop
d Scarborough. Bishop Paret, whom he
J. had consulted before the wedding, had
y told him. he said. that it would be
l. perfectly legal from a chuch view
+ point and gave him letters dimissory to
Bishop Scarborough. The Rev
d Charles A. Hensel, vicar of Grace
l. Church chapel, performed the cere-
[ mony. Without a moments delibera-
/. ton after learning Of the marriage the
a vestry to a man assured the young
l. clergyman that it should not interfere
+ with mis- call and requested him to
I bring his bride from Baltimore at once