The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-14
He Advises CIergymen Not to Go Be-
hind the Decree OF a Divorce Court
I'm Any Event.
AGAINST RICHMOND DELEGATES
THAT PARISH Is IN ARREARS IN SUM
OF SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS.
Bishop Francis Anxious to Lift the
Mortgage on Episcopal Property
Some Statistics.

copal Diocese of Indianapolis out of the or
| binary grind. The session continued all
/ day yesterday and closed late in the after
noon. Bishop Francis, who presided, hint
| ed that the council next year might be held
away from this city. AT the morning ses-
| sion the matter Of the delegates from Rich
mond who are ir arrears of dues was set
| tied quietly by not permitting them to take
seats. The position was embarrassing, to
say the least, but the representatives from
| the Quaker city did not appear at all Of
| Tended, and remained through the entire
! meeting John l.. Rupe, Jesse s. Reeves.
Mark Stimmel and +. w. Davis are the
Richmond delegates. Rev. H. II. Hadley,
rector, was given his seat because the dues
of the present year had been paid. The
| arrearage amounts to about 5000.
| 1t is said the members of the Richmond
church had given the matter of their deficit
no thought. and had no idea of being
| barred from the convention. The Rich
, mond congregation is in fairly prosperous
state, but could not make up the $500 which
would allow them representation. On Tues
day night there was movement to allow
| them seats anyway, but this thought
unwise and the visitors went way back"
little thought had been given to the sub
| ject of divorce. In fact, 1T had been an
nounced that this topic would not be
| touched upon. However, Rev. T. o. Gran
Mss, of this city, introduced a resolution to
the effect that the council voice the senti-
ment of the address of Bishop Joseph Mar
shall Francis which referred to divorce. At
this point Meredith Nicholson offered an
other motion. A movement was then
started, after considerable discussion, to
lay the whole matter the table. This
was lost, and Mr.. Nicholson then withdrew
his motion and allowed the preceding one
to be put. 1t was passed
BISHOP TALKS OF DIVORCE.
The portion of Bishop Francis's address
which deals with divorce, and which voices
the opinion of the council. is as follows:
mo word of mine is needed to impress
upon you the seriousness and rapid spread
of this evil or the danger which threatens
the family and. therefore the state and
the church because of it. The law of the
church on the subject is plain and explicit.
Title III, Canon 13, of the Digest of the Gen.
eral Convention says:
a. If any persons be Joined together
otherwise than as Gods Word doth allow,
| their marriage is not lawful.
80. No minister, knowingly. after due
| inquiry, shall solamniZe the marriage of
| any person who has divorced husband OF
wife still living, IL such husband or wife
has been put away for any cause arising
after marriage; but this canon shall not
be held to apply TO the innocent party in
divorce for the cause OF adultery, or to
parties once divorced seeking to be united
again.
'''3. If any minister of this church shall
have reasonable cause to doubt whether a
person DESTROYS of being admitted to holy
| baptism, TO confirmation, or to the holy
communion, has been married otherwise
than as the Word of God and discipline of
this church allow, such minister, before re-
| ceiving such person TO these ordinances,
shall refer the. case to the bishop for his
| godly Judgment thereupon; provided how
ever, that no minister SHALL in any case,
refuse the sacraments to penitent person
| in imminent danger of death.
STICK BY THE DECREE.
after careful consideration, it is my de-
liberate Judgment that no clergyman should
| go behind the decree of the court which
granted the divorce. If the canonical
| ground for divorce exists it must be stated
| in the petition in order to give the inno-
| cent party the right to remarry. My own
rule is to solemnize the marriage of no
| one who has divorced husband or wife
living irrespective Of the cause for which
| the divorce was granted. 1 wish this might
be the general practice of the clergy of this
diocese; but, even it this be not the general
rlage be solemniZed when one of the parties
mas divorced husband or wife living un--
less indisputab bic legal evidence is produced
tnat such person was the innocent party
| IN divorce for the cause of adultery.
But it is our duty not only to impose
penalties but to endeavor to cure the evil
PUBIC instruction on the sOlemnity OF mar
riage and on the sac-edness of the home
would do much TO remedy the present con-
dltlons, and absolute refusal 10 marry run
away couples or those who are unknown TO
us and who are net properly vouched for
would also accomplish something in the way
OF reform, Marriages hastily and thought
Clxv 1o6a f.-rrff f,,l de Of Ifxrnr
Put stop, as far as may be, to these
hasty unions and a stop will be put at the
same time to large number of divorces.
And let me remind you, also, that 1t Is
not sufficient to apply ecclesiastical penal
ties alone; as we value the home, which is
Gods divine institution; we desire purity
and sanctity to be the characteristics of
the home life; we are true to our Lords
teaching, which declares that whatsoever
shall put away his Wife and marry another,
committeth adultery against her. And If
woman shall put away her husband, and be
married 10 another, she committeth adul-
terry, with the possible exception which st.
Matthew records. except it be for fornica-
also. The utter disregard of our Lords law
and teaching on this subject by those who
the evil that We lament to-day"
During the course of his address the
bishop spoke of the work he had done. He
has preached ninety@five sermons and trav-
most respects prosperous and the attend
ance has increased. The speaker also called
attention to the mortgage of $4,000 on the
diocese, $4,000 being the episcopal resi-
dence. Bishop Francis said that If $4,000
could be raised in the diocese he would try
to collect a similar amount outside
PROPOSED CHANGE OF NAME.
Another important matter before the
Council was that of the proposed change
in the name of the church. A resolution
stating that although the present title of
Protestant Episcopal was not wholly ade-
quate and does not clearly define the char
acter OF the church yet as no name has
been suggested to take the place Of this
one. and inasmuch as any change would
bring distress to many adherents, 1t Is re-
commended that no change be made
This sense Of the council will be commune
Gated to the general council, which is now
trying to ascertain the feeling through
out the country on the idea of changing the
name of the church
Holy communion was celebrated at st
Paurs, Grace Cathedral and st. David's
Church, yesterday morning The session
yesterday was begun at o'clock, when the
Rev. 8. c. Sargent. of this city. read a
report on Sunday-school work st. Ste
phens Mission, at Elwood, and st. Paul's
Church, Of Terre Haute were taken into
the council. The election OF officers was
held and resulted as follows:
Treasurer-Charles Z. Brooks
Registrar-Meredith Nicholson.
Librarian--Rev. Harry s. Musson
Board of Missions-Rev. d. c. Wright
Rev. F. o. Granniss. Rev. c. s. Sargent,
c: B. stilz, II. w. Buttolph. DR.. c. F.
SfandinT committee,-f2ev. 7 u st.n,ev