Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
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Of the election Of DR.. Luther B. Wilson to
the episcopacy Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church were read at the bishops reception
at Wesley Church last evening by DR.. g..
Reese Murray Of Union Church, who moved
them at the preachers meeting. Mr.. George
| Hilton. craftsman Of this city, generously
| donated his work in engrossing on parch-
ment the original copy of the resolutions,
and Col. E. B. Hay engrossed the later
| copy. which was exhibited to the public at
the church and which will be framed and
forwarded to the bishop.
DR.. Wilson's election has everywhere
| throughout the church ELECTED the highest
| interest, being regarded as a spontaneous
| testimonial to his work. He had not been
| a quadrennial candidate for hOnors, 1t is
| said and used no machinery to secure the
| favors which result in heavy ballots. Few
thought he would be brought forward at
| the past general conference, though many
anticipated that he would some day gain
be first put on one of the large church
| boards as general conference official and
| thence go Gas usuaD into the episcopal
office.
Few pastors have ever gained this honor,
nor will many, 1t Is believed, be able TO
gain it under the present order OF events.
! Four years ago there was quite general
| pastors movement which was intendeo,
1t is said, to keep officials and presioIns
| elders out of the general conference Dr:
| Wilson, then a retiring elder, was not sent
| to this body, his men voting for other can,
! didates. This year, however, he proved
! the winning card" on the first balot anu
| thus became a conspicuous factor at Los
Angeles. where he was elected and conse-
Grated bishop.
| Heretofore he has been regarded as
strongly conservative on the ola llheS y.
ecclesiastica procedure but his sympatn.es
are broad and much may be looked iol
| from his general superintendent,
claimed He is comparatively young IN
board of bishops numbering great ma
| jority Of Older men.
About one hundred representative lat NC
| of the Methodist Episcopal Churcn III W. W.,
| city and a number of ladles run 'nt t+end-
| mans Christian Temperance Union 4, a'1 pnet
! ed a reception yesterday afternoon III us
| Hall, 1850 North Capitol street, TO eis my
| and Mrs Luther B. Wilson. iuhch, l .i,
mo room of the hall Plants and flowers
decorated the room and tables 80
Mrs DR.. Street presided. A varie.y Oh
addresses, representing the o1Herenl pl ,,a,,
thropic and religious societies, were given.
Rev. DR. Naylor the presiding elder or Tue
washington district, spoke on our W.
men-God BE Them. fropntcy 49,,
filed was presented by Mrs L. n. Il1 Won.
son by Mrs Clinton B. Smith, district presi.
| dent. Woman's Christian Temperance
| Union. The remaining addresses were:
| "Woman's Foreign Missionary socleos,
| Mrs Frank NJ Bristol; "Woman's Home
| Missionary Society" Mrs. Clara L. Roach;
| 'Deaconess' Home" Mrs, A. d. Lyncn'
| The Methodist Home" Mrs. w: e. NC
Dowel: Reading Circle OF ene ..Nstionai
| Training School and Sibley Memorial Hos
pital," Dr. C. W. Gallagher.
To these addresses Bishop Wilson mace
a fitting response, expressive of his appre-
citation of the klnoneSS anu coui 'o"S '
him.
The committee appointed at the last an
nual convention of the Episcopal Church'
diocese of Washington, to bring before the
people of the, District the action OF the con
vention in regard to the divorce question Is
Kim. Rev. Frederick B. Howden, Rev. Dr.
Alfred Harding, Capt. Miller, u s. N, ana
Mr.. Thomas Hyde.
Ministers of other denominations will be
asked to enter into a UNCONVENTIONAL comfy
in the matter of marriage and divorce, ana
to help carry out the principles of the law
in the District. Not only the enforcement
of the letter of the law in regard to divorce
will be urged in the campaign to be lnau-
gurated, but the principle of remarriage
as held by the church will be inculcated
wherever possible.
1t is believed with the resumption of
mittees will be appointed by the various de-
nominations to cooperate with the one
named by the Episcopal Church.
The committee of Episcopaians was APP
pointed in compliance with statement of
the situation to the convention by DR.. Nc
Kim In this the reasons for action were
clearly set forth. He said
1.-The possibility of effective cooperation
for Christian ideals by the various Chris
tian communions in our midst was demon
strated several years ago by the successful
battle waged for the enactment of a better
law of marriage and divorce In the Dis
trict of Columbia, and afterward by the
defeat of the strenuous efforts made for its
repeal. By the united action of the repre-
sentatives Of Protestant Christianity in this
community every cause for absolute d.
vorce, save one was stricken from the stat
ute book, and the civil law in the capital
of the nation brought into close
formity with the canon law of the Profess
tant Episcopal Church.
But an important step remains to be
taken to complete the work so well begun.
The law forbids absolute divorce, save for
the one grevous crime against the sanctity
of the marriage bond; but it does not for
bid the clergy to unite in marriage persons
divorced for other causes in other civil
| jurisdictions thar the District of Columbia;
and 1t appears that some of the ministers
of other communions than our own do still
Offciate In such cases.
Now, as long this practice continues
the testimony against unscriptural divorce
| lie opinion must fall far short Of its due
weight for the conservatio of the home
| from the influences which are sapping the
| foundations of its purity and strength
| Indeed, the civil law is holding up a high
| standard, and the Christian ministry so
| far 1t lends itself to the soemniZa ton
| of marriages of persons divorced for these
| less serious causes, is actually sanctioning
| lower standard upon this vital subject
| This is an evil which ought not to continue
| in a Christian community. We ask whether
| it may not be possible to arouse such
Christian sentiment shall abate it, and
bring the representatives Of all our Pro-
| testant communities up to the level Of the
| civil law? That puts a ban upon all d.
| vorces, except for one cause, commonly be-
| lieved to be scriptural May we not bring
| about some concerted action among the
| various Protestant bodies, whereby every
| Christian minister will agree to refuse to
| solemnize marriage of any person who has
| been divorced for cause other than which
| the civil law now allows?
THE force of public opinion is the might
| lest agency for effecting moral reforms 1t
| Is, under God the sheet anchor of hope
| for the abatement of the awful evils of lax
divorce in this land
| THE convention therefore urges that the
| committee just appointed shall make
| 1t one of their chief aims to bring about
| an agreement among the ministers Of the