Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-10-25
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION


AS was stated in the Gazette of that
day, an agreement on the divorce ques-
ton was resched yesterday by the House
Of Bishops and the House of Deputies of
the Episcopal General Convention in
session in Boston after many days of
discussion. That section of the canon
bearing directly on the remarriage Of
divorced persons which was amended by
the bishops Saturday, assented to by the
deputies yesterday and becomes effective
at once, is as followe:
mo minister, knowingly, after due
inquiry, shall solemnize the marriage of
any person who has been or is the hus-
band or the wife of any other person
then living, from whom 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 a
divorce for adultery provided, that be-
tore the application for such remarriage
a period of not less than one year shall
have elapsed after the granting of such
divorce and that satisfactory e'idence
touching the facts in tue case, including
a copy of the courts decree, and record
if practicable, with such proof that the
defendant was personally served or ap-
peared iu the action, be laid before the
ecclesiastical authority and such ecclesias-
teal authority, having taken legal adj
vice thereon, shall have declared in
writing that in his jugement the case of
the applicant conforms to the require
ments of this canon, and provided further
that it shall be within the discretion Of
any minister to decline to solemnize any
marriage"
The bishops adopted an amendmentto
section referring to the administra-
ton of Sacraments, providing that if
clergyman shall have reasonable cause
to doubt whether person has been mar
ried "otherwise as the Word of God and
discipline of this church allows" such
clergyman shall refer the matter to the
bishop before administering the sac
raments. The deputies had made an
exception in favor of The "innocent
party divorced on the ground ofadultery"
who bad remarked, but the bishops
struck out the exception. Their action
was accepted by the House of Deputies
yesterday.
1t is understood, that an attempt will
be made to have the next convention
specifically declare against remarrisge
under any conditions.
The House Of Deputies rejected a
resolution to strike out the words
Protestant Episcopal from the title
page of the Book of Common Prayer.
Rev. Francis Taitt, of Chester, Pa,
was elected assistant bishop of South
Dakota.
The report Of special committee ap-
pointed early in the session to consider
the subject of lynching was, with al
most unanimous consent, laid on the
table.
Boston, Oct. 25.-The Episcopal
House of Deputies began this last days
work with a short calendar. Attendance
was small, several of the delegates hav-
ing already left for home. A message
was read from the House of Bishops pro.
posing joint committee on prohibited
degrees in marriage. The matter was
laid on the table. DR.. Huntington spoke
for his resolution to discontinue the COM
mission for work among the colored peo-
pie and transferring their duties to the
new boards of bishops. He thought
that more vigorous campaign could be
carried on in the work in the sout under
the proposed arrangement. The resolu-
ton of Mr.. Hicks, Of Arkansas, concern
Ing proportionate representation was
laid on the table.
At o'clock this afternoon, the con.
veution will meet in Trinity Church,
where the pastoral letter will be read by
Bi,hop Potter, of New York.
The convention will then adjourn.