The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-20
NEW DIVORCE CANON REPORT
CHURCH PLAN IN FAVOR or THE
INNOCENT PARTY.


BosToE. Oct ia compromise canon
In divorce was presented In the House of
Deputies In the Episcopal General Conven-
ton to-day. the entire committee on canons
having united on II. 1t seemed to meet
the approval Of the vast majority OF the
house, judging by the voice votes on the
several matters requiring action, and after
1t was read 1t was put over until Tomorrow,
when 1t will be debated.
The Rev. j. H. Ecoieston Of Maryland,
in presenting the report, said:
this IL an effort at peace. The COM
mittee approa ohes the House, embarra ssed
by an unusual condition, because on Oct. II
II reported an amendment to the can on
on divorce. and after four days OF earnest
consideration and exhaustive debate, the
house acted adversely upon it. The com
Inittee comes before the house with its
report upon the resolutions adopted by
the House Of Bishops almost the identical
subject on which the House Of Deputies
acted adversely. All the com mittee asks
Is the privilege Of presenting a report and
asking that the vote he taken directly
on it,"
The new canon says
No minister knowingly. after due inquiry.
shall solemnihe the marriage OF any person
who has u divorced husband OF wife still
living. IL such husband or wife has been put
away for any cause arising after marriage.
but this canon IL not to apply to the innocent
party In a divorce for adultery provided
that before the application for such re-mar,;,
riage, a period of not less than one year shall
have elapsed after the granting of such divorce
and that satisfactory evidence touching the
fSSt in the si%ddnk o eSRg OF ths
proof that the defendant was personally
served. or appeared in the action. be laid
before the ecclesiastical authority and such
ecclesiastical authority. having taken legal
advice thereon. shall have issued a license
for such marriage, provided. further, that
no minister shall be liable TO Cens,lre or dis
cipline for refusal to solemnize such mar.
r'f Y any minister of this church shall have
reasonable. cause to doubt whether person
DESTROYS Of being admitted TO, holy baptism
or confirmation or to the holy communion
has been married otherwise than as the Word
such minister before receiving such person
to these ordinances. shall refer the case to
hs nor s sh IN ANN reSs
/ Ca ordinances to a penitent person in
imminent danger Of death or TO any, person
remarked after having been divorced on the
" ound OF adultery. who shall deliver TO the
minister his or her solemn declaration In writ
ing that he or she was AN innocent party in
such action for divorce.
DR. Eccleston said:
members Of this house. We have worked
hour after hour for the peace OF the church
and we have worked for something more.
We do not want to 60 back to our homes
and appear to rebuke the hope Of those
who have been earnestly looking for this
convention to give them better Jaw than
they now have.
+. q. Bradford Of Delaware said he would
be unable to vote for the new report. He
said it was an unjustifiable compromise OF
-t.~I& sLak Nlx<. NJ rreI IN
bear on it's face the stamp Of suspicion.
No, MOI" cried q number OF deputies.
Gentlemen here may say No. no. but
IL has no more effect on me than do drops
OF water on ducks back. want to tell
you that il this amendment is carried it
will put Oh the realization Of the legislation
that no many Of us here desire. We may
be defeated here in this convention, but II
we stand together we can go down together
here with our oolors flying and at the
next general convention we will secure
victory"
LABOR UNIONS APPROVED.
The commission appointed by the gen.
eral convention in 1901 to study the aims
OF the labor unions and to investigate the
causes OF industrial disturbances, as they
might arise, made report to the conven-
ton to-day. The report which ia signed
by Bishops Potter. McKim, Lawrence.
Anderson. Dean Hedges and q: d. Will
liams, Samuel Matter and Jacob Rice.
We ate ayr ed in the conviction that
the causes OF the violence Of the past three
years In Pennsylvania, in Colorado and in
illinois, are not 80 much economical as
moral. The strike commonly begins in
distrust The employer and the employed,
separated by our industrial conditions
at such a social distance az to make frateI-
nal understanding difficult. make their
bar gain one with another. under these con-
ditions. not as partners. but as competitors.
Where distrust and hostility are unfounded.
the church may AFFORD an opportunity of
conference.
I'VE call attention to the analogy between
certain offences Of the union and like Of
fences, past or present, of both the capitalist
and the churchman. Thus, the employers
blacklist corresponds to the unions boy
colt, and both are akin to the major ex-
communication. The lockout and the
strike are OF the same nature.
while, then, we condemn the tyranny
and turbulence Of the labor union. and call
upon the law to preserve the liberty OF
every citizen to employ whom he will and
to work for whom he will. we depreoate
the hasty temper which, in oondemning the
errors OF the unions, condemns at the same
time the whole movement with which
they are connected"