The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-06-16
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
Annual Meeting of the Diocese ct
North Carolina Held In Raleigh LAST
Week-Matters of Interest and linz
portance Discussed.


The Convention of the Diocese of North
Carolina met in Christ Church, Raleigh.
last week. Many matters of interest
were discussed but special attention was
directed to the matter of Divorce Legis-
lation. A special committee to whom
was referred so much of the Bishops
address as related to this subject brought
in the following report:
WHEREAS, The statistics show that, in
North Carolina, during the past year,
there have been granted by the Courts of
the State more than L. 400 divorces; and
WHEREAS, Every divorce granted in
the State for any cause other than those
causes prescribed in the Code of North
Carolina in it's edition of 1883 is blow
at the purity OF our social life and the
sanctity OF the marriage relation; and
WHEREAS, The General. Assembly of
North Carolina in each of it's sessions
held in recent years, has increased the
number OF causes for which divorce may
be granted, and has rendered more easy
the procurement of such separation; and
WHEREAS, 1t is demonstrated by ex-
perience that legislation which encour-
ages and thereby multiplies suits for
divorce, weakens the sense of the sancti-
ty Of marriage and tends to the destruc-
ton OF social and domestic purity:
Now, therefore, be it by the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of
North Carolina in Annual Convention
assembled,
Resolved, LIST. That we do view with
alarm the attack upon social and do
nestle virtue that is being made by the
increasing number of statutory causes
for divorce in North Carolina. -.
Resolved, 2nd. That as church Or
ganlzatlOn we are opposed to granting
divorces for any causes other than those
prescribed in the Code of 1888.
Resolved, 3rd. That the Bishop of
this Diocese be requested to appoint
committee of three members, of which
he shall be chairman, to be composed Of
the Bishop, one clergyman and one lay
man, to prepare and publish an address
to the people of North Carolina, express
ing the sentiment of the members of this
church upon this most vital question;
and that, such committee be further
requested to prepare a memorial to the
urging such legislation as may be neces-
sary to restore our divorce laws to their
original simplicity
Respectfully submitted:
VIM. H. MEADE,
A. B. HUNTER, :.
KEMP P. BATTLE,
H. G. COMMON,
F.S. SPRUILL,
Committee.
The report having been unanimously
adopted the following resolution, offered
by Mr.. j. Cameron Buxton, was in like
manner agreed to:
Resolved, That a committee be ap-
pointed by this convention, of which the
Bishop shall be chairman, to seek the
cooperation of the Diocese of East
Carolina, the district of Asheville and
also that of other Christian bocies in
this State for the purpose of memorial
izing the next Legislature of North Caro-
lima to reform the Divorce Laws of this
State SO as to conform to the law as
published in the Codge of 1883 before the
recent amendments thereto.
1t should be explained that in the Code
referred to nothing but adultery was
allowed as a cause for divorce.
On Friday evening last, after the ad-
journment OF the convention, a mass
meeting was held in Metropolitan Hall,
Bishop Cheshire presiding, at which
fOrcible addresses were made by the Rev.
Drs. Murdoch, Moment, Tyree and Ivey,
Judge Conner of the Supreme Court and
MIR. John s. Henderson of Salisbury, in
protest against the new divorce laws of
the State. The last named gentleman
while quite agreeing that no more should
be demanded of the Legislature than
return to the law of 1883 expressed the
sentiment of a large-majority of Christian
people that whatever might be said of
what many regard as Scriptural rea-
son for separation, that nothing could
under any circumstances, justify the
marriage OF any divorced person during
the life OF the separated partner. What
Tod hath Joined together let not man
put asunder." All honor to South Caro-
lima which allows no divorce for any
cause whatever! J.E.L