The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-24
D])IOR
" LOST
AT THE PRESBYTERIAN MEETING
BY a VOTE OF 2e2 TO 24l-THE
REMAINDER OF REPORT
KNOWN AS RECOMMEN-
DATlON
NO. 2 WAS ADoPTED-DR. DickEY
WOULD RESPECT ROMAN
CHURCH IN THE
PREMISES.

BUFFALO,, May 2i.-Late yester-
day afternoon the Presbyterian Cen
eral Assembly baked at divorce rule.
BY vote OF 2G2 TO 244 the Assembly
wiped out that part OF the report OF
the special committee on marriage
and divorce which advised Presby-
terrain ministers to refuse to marry
any person whose marriage is for
hidden by the church OF which that
person is member. The committee
mad put on that provision to promote
the work Of the 1nter-church confer
ence on marriage and divorce. which
takes IN thirteen denominations and
TINS action OF the assembly.
II was declared last night that it
ence The action OF the Assembly
was not taken until after a heated de-
bate in which frequent reference was
made 70 tie Roman Catholic church.
The proposition was fought on the
ground tnaI the committee was trying
10 have the church enact law more
strict than that laid down i'll the New,
Testament by Christ Himself. There
was some like MIX last night OF an ef-
fort being made TO have this action
provided by the today. The
recommendation number and
was adopted. 1t enjoins all ministers
under the Assembly's authority to re-
fuse to marry divorced persons save
those who have been divorced on
grounds recognized as scriptural- be
sides taking action on the marriage
and divorce question, the Assembly
approved the partial report of the
special committee on forms and SER
vices which provides an order of morn
ing service and an order for the bap-
tism of infants. These orders are to
be optional. While the Assembly ap-
proved the two orders they Will not
be published lubbock form until after
a complete book Of forms has been
complied by the committee.
Regarding the action OF marriage
and divorce, Chas. A. Dickey, Chair
man Of the committee, was much put
out He said there was no use in
charging the State with bad laws
that were in consonance with the
teaching of scripture. Mr.. D1ckey
said the trouble was not chiefly with
the middle classes, but with the richer
classes. He urged that no Presby-
terrain minister ever marry any mem
Der Of any church that has been re-
fused marriage in his own denomlna-
ton. Mr. McAfee asked Mr.. Dickey
what he would do if a Roman Cath
Ollie member would come. and MI
Dickey replied that he would respect
the Roman Church in the premises
President Patton, of Princeton The
illogical Seminary took UP the cud-
gel against the recommendation.
This question is not eloquence,'' he
said. There is absolutely no author
ity for divorce and this law of Jesus
Christ The New Testament states
that in case of marital infidelity, the
injured person has a right to suffer
divorce.
This is a serious matter, seeking to
amend the divorce law of Jesus Christ.
When you begin to amend it you can
modify it to your hearts content. the
present attempt is 10 make the law
more binding than Jesus Chrst's law
But if this modfcat ton is made others
may seek to modify ii IN other direc-
TONS
Moderator Henry raped his gavel
hard and showed a disposition To
put the question without further de-
bate. After some parleying, the moz
ton to strike out was carried. Last
night negro delegates took a prorni-
nent part in the meeting. IN the inter
est of Freedmen,