Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-11
THE CANON ON MARRIAGE.
Discussion Begun by the House Of
Deputies Today.
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
BOSTON, October 1.-THE proposed new
canon on marriage and divorce was on the
order paper for discussion when the trien.
nial general convention of the Episcopal
Church resumed it's sessions today. In case
the committee having the matter in charge
should present its report, the house of
deputies had set apart two hours of to-
days session-from II until 1 oclock-for
the discussion. -tu.
The sessions of the house of bishops were
continued The Archbishop of Canterbury
who will leave Boston tomorrow, appeared
at the convention for the last time.
At the conferences by the Womans Aux
iliary on THE Training of Missionaries"
Bishop William Hobart Hare of South Da-
kota and others made addresses.
In the house of deputies a discussion
occurred as to whether the term 'in the
United States" meant that territory be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific or included
the insular possessions as well. The mat
ter came up in connection with an article
in the constitution governing representation
from missionary districts. The disputed
point was finally referred to the committee
on constitutional amendments
The committee on canons, In charge of
the proposed new canon on marriage and
divorce submitted lengthy report through
it's chairman, Rev. DR.. F. +. Davenport
of Memphis, Tenn. The present canon on
the subject permits the remarriage of the
innocent person in a divorce case wherein
a decree was issued by the civil courts on
the ground of infidelity. There has been
considerable dissatisfaction over this CANON
many clergymen favoring a law to prevent
the remarriage of any divorced person
while the former. partner Is living.
The Majority Report.
The majority of the committee appointed
at the last convention to report on the sub
ject favored this idea.
They recommended the following amend
ments: "If any minister of this church
shall have reasonable cause to doubt wheth-
er a person desirOus of being admitted to
holy baptism, or to confirmation, to the
holy communion, has been married other
wise than as the Word of God and discipline
of this church allows, such minister, be-
fore receiving such person to these ordi-
nances, shall refer the case to the bishop
for his godly judgment thereupon; pro-
vided, however, that no minister shall, in
any case, refuse the sacraments to peni-
tent person in imminent danger of death,
nor to any person who shall solemnly aver
that he, or she, was the innocent party in
a divorce for the cause of adultery.
mo minister shall solemniZe marriage
between any two persons unless by inquiry
he shall have satisfied himself that neither
person has been or is the husband the
wife of any other person then living, from
whom he or she has been divorced for any
cause arising after marriage.
IF any question shall arise under this
canon in a diocese or missionary jurisdic-
ton in which there is no bishop, such ques-
tionS shall be referred to some bishop to be
designated by the standing committee, and
the bishop to whom such questions have
been referred shall thereupon make inquiry
In m
ent and shall deliver his judgment in the
premises
The report was signed by Chairman Dav-
export, Rev. Dr. ]. Eccleston of Baltimore,
Rev. Dr. John Fulton of Philadelphia, Rev.
DR.. George McC. Fiske of Providence, D.
b. Lyman of Chicago. w. H. Lightner of
Minnesota, F. L. Stetson of New York.
Charles G. Saunders of Boston. c. H. Stan
ley of Washington and F. A. Lewis Of
Washington.
The Minority Report.
A minority report, signed by Rev. Dr. J.
Lewis Parks of New York, Rev. Henry s.
Mast of Cambridge. Mass, and r. H. Bat
tie, was presented. as follows:
Questions touching the fact of any ease
arising under this canon shall be deter
mined by the record of the civil court
which adiudged or decreed the divorce,
copy of which. under the seal of said court.
shall be furnished the minister requested
to solemnize the marriage
The effect of the minority report, If adopt
ed, would be to leave unchanged that part
of the old canon permitting remarriage of
the innocent person in a case of infidelity.
The minority, however, desired to provide
for greater safeguards in the shape of civil
court testimony, when innocent persons"
who have been divorced desire to be re-
married. E
After the presentation of both reports
discussion ensued as to the method of pro-
cedure Chairman Davenport, Rev. DR..
Parks, Mr.. Lewis. Rev. DR.. Fulton and
other members of the committee participant
ed In the debate. An attempt was made
by William Bayard Cutting of New York
to have the doors closed during the debate,
but it failed by an overwhelming vote. The
house then went into committee of the
whole to consider the proposed changes in
the canons. After some further debate 1t
was voted to consider the proposed amend
ment prohibiting the remarriage of divorced
persons. The fight against the amendment
anapad hN % as