Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-25
ON DIVORCE.
The EpiscopaIians Reach
Agreement at Boston.
Canon Bears on Re-Marriage oil
Divorced Persons.
The Convention Will Reach Final Ad-
iournment, Today.

Boston Oct 24-An agreement on
the divorce question was reached, to-
day. by the House of Bishops and the
House of Deputies Of the Episcopal
general convention, after many days of
discussion. That section of the canon,
bearing directly on the re-marriage of
divorced persons, which was amended
by the bishops, Saturday, assented to
by the deputies, today, and becomes
eff active at one, is as follows:
mo minister, knowingly, after due
inquiry. shall sOlemniZe the marriage
of anv person who has been or is the
husband or the wife of any other per-
son then living, from he or she has
been divorced for any cause, arising
after marriage. But this canon shall not
be held to apply to the innocent party
in divorce for adultery; provided,
that before the application for such re-
marriage. a period of not less than one
wear shall have elapsed, after the
granting of such divorce; and, that
satisfactory evidence touching the
facts in the case, including a copy of
the courts decree and record, if prac-
ticable. with proof. that the defendant
was personally served or appeared in
the action. be laid before the ecclesias-
teal authority and such ecclesiastical
authority having taken legal advice
thereon. shall have declared in writ
ing that in his Judgment the case of
the applicant conforms to the require
ments of this canon: and. provided fur
Their, that it shall be within the discre-
ton of any minister to decline to SOL
emniZe any marriage.
The bishops adopted an amendment
to a section referring to the admins
tration of the sacraments providing
that if clergyman shall have reason
able cause to doubt whether a person
has been married OTHERWISE than as
the word of God and discipline of this
church allow" such clergyman shall
refer the matter to the bishops before
administering the Sacraments. The
deputies had made an eception in ia
vor of the innocent party divorced on
the ground OF adultery" who had re-
married. but the bishops struck out
the exception. Their action was ac-
cepted by the House Of Deputies, to-
day.
The orinion of the leading church.
on the remarriage Of the innocent per-
son are of stringent nature, re-mar-
rage of divorced persons will be cele-
brated in the church hereafter. 1t is
understood. however. that an attempt
will be made to have the next conven-
ton specifically declare against any
re-marriage under any conditions so
that the natter is settled for only
three years.
The House of Deputies, today reject
ed, after a long debate a resolution in
troduccd by Rev. B. Talbot Rogers of
Fond du Lac, Wis, to strike out the
words Protestant Episcopal" from the
title page of the book of common
prayer The resolution was a re-echo
of the efforts made some time ago to
change the name of the protestant
Episcopal church in the United States.
| action upon which was declared mex
pedient at this time.
| Both houses have appointed a joint
commission to consider the advisable
| ty of electing a presiding bishop OF the
church. AS president the senior the
bishop occupies the position. and it is
claimed that the duties are too heavy
for an aged diocesan. The commission
| will make a report to the next con-
vention. Rev. Francis Taitt of Ches-
ter. Pa, was today elected assistant
bishop Of South Dakota to aid Bishop
w. H. Hare.
Many deputies left for home, tonight,
and the convention will adjourn finally
tomorrow.