The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-11
THE CASE OF MR. EWING
WILL NOT r. aserx nEcroasHr
ID Beckwith Contents That the nsfer Papers of .hs Green He Clergyman Are Not
 Not in Canonical Form.

t4f
 Birmingham. Oct. lo.--{speciai,-.Th The announcement that the Rev. Quincy EN- ing of Greenville. Miss. who had accepted to become the rector of the Church of the Advent Episcopal, would not begin his rectorship tomorrow. has caused much discussion in Birmingham. Though it was known in the vestry of the church organization and in the church proper, the pubic announcement has aroused much interest. It was stated that the uii- willingness of Bishop Beckwith of Ala bama to>acept Mir: Ewlne's transfer from Bishop Bratton of Mississippi, is assigned as reasons for the hitch.
 Bishop Beckwith contends that these pa- pers arc not in canonical form, but 1t is thought the trouble lies In the fact that Mir. Ewing performed the marriage cere- nony of the Rev. Charles Morris. form erly pastor of the Birmingham Church of the Advent, in Greenville, in June, 1901. while Mir. Morris had a divorced wife living. The Bishop of Alabama, it is said. withholds his consent to the new rector on these grounds, while the vestry of the Advent are anxious to have MT. Ewing begin his rectorship. The matter thus stands in abeyance and Mir. Ewing cam. not enter upon the duties at the Church of the Advent until the consent of Bishop Beckwith has been obtained.
 It is a mistake that Bishop of Missis. sippi refused to give MT. Ewing ''clear- ance papers to MT Ewing states that he was qualified clergyman in good stand ing in that diocese, exercising Godiy ministry in the church at Greenville, but incidentally mentioned that there had been criticism of Mir. Ewings action in the marriage of MT. Morris, but that no action had been or was proposed to be taken against him. This letter Is not ex- actly in the technical form prescribed by the canon, but is believed by the vestry to be in substantial compliance with it, The Bishop of Alabama declines to ac- cept it because it Is not in the exact form prescribed.
 In reference to the marriage of Mir. Morris. while having divorced wife liv- ing, a letter from member of the stand sippi. and a priest of high character and standing, contains these paragraphs:
 Tt Is a fact beyond any reasonable question that complapt against MT. Ew- ing was legally and regularly brought be- fore the standing committee for investi- gation and action (which Is the first step that must be taken under the canons of the church in the diocese for any proceed ings for discipline.) The standing conn mittee did investigate and deliberated fully and carefully upon the facts alleged in the complaint, and all other facts and circumstances bearing upon the matter of MT. Ewing's connection in the marriage of MT. Morris. After such deliberation the following resolution was passed:
 ,'' Resolved, That it is the sense of the committee that no presentment be made of the Rev. Quincy Ewing of the charge of the marriage of the Rev. Charles Nor ris in June 1901, under title to canon 3. Section of the digest, because of the settled interpretation of the Bishop of this diocese of the canon of marriage and divofce.'
 This action of the standing committee was reported to the Committee of the Di- ocese and reviewed by them in committee of the whole, and was not set aside or disaproved. This action of the committee was also reported to Bishop Thompson and was not disapproved by him"
 This morning a prominent member of the Church of the Advent said:
 .'It is known that MT. Morris, after his marriage, resigned from the ministry. The vestry and congregation who heard MT. Ewing several Sundays ago take the view that the conduct of MT. Ewing at this time deserves no criticism, and 1t appears that only Bishop Beckwith is In the way of Mir. Ewing entering upon his rectorship."