The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-10-25
AGRGRON NDIVORCEQUESTION
HOUSE OF BISHOPS AND DEpu- TIES OF EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

That the Remarriage of Divorced Persons VIII be Rare in the Church
 Hereafter-auestion of Appointing a Presiding Bishop.
 ] Boston, Oct. 24.-An agreement On the divorce question was reached to-day by the house of bishops and the house of deputies of the Episcopal General con- vention, after many days of discussion. That section of the canon bearing di- rectly on the re-marriage of divorced persons which was amended by the deputies to-day, and becomes effective at once, is as follows:
 No minister, knowingly after due in quiry, 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 af- ter marriage. But this canon shall not be held to apply to the innocent party in divorce for adultery. provided that before the application for such re-mar- riage period of not less than one year shall have elapsed after the granting of such divorce; and that. satisfactory evidence touching the facts in the case, including a copy of the courts decree, and record if practicable, with such proof that the defendant was person ally served or appeared in the action, be laid before the ecclesiastical author ity, and such ecclesiastical authority, having taken legal advice thereon. shall have declared in writing that, in his judgment, the case of the applicant conforms to the requirements 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 amendment to a section referring to the adminis- tration of the sacrament, providing that if clergyman shall have reasonable cause to doubt whether person has been married otherwise than as the word of God and discipline of this church allow" such clergyman shall re- f fer the matter to the bishop before ad- ministering the sacraments. The dep uties had made an exception in favor of the innocent party divorced on the ground of adultery, who had re-mar- ried, but the bishops struck out the ex- ception Their action was accepted by the house of deputies to-day.
 Leading churchmen expressed the opinion that the restrictions placed up on the re-marriage of an innocent par ty to a divorce are so stringent that the re-1narriage of divorced persons , will be rare in the church hereafter. It is understood, however, that an attempt 8 will be made to have the next conven- ton specifically declare against re- marriage under any conditions. The house of deputies to-day reject ed, after long debate. a resolution in troduced by Rev. B. Talbot Rogers, of Fond du Lac, Wis, to strike cue the words Protestant Episcopap' from the title page of the Book of Common Prayer.
 $ Both houses have appointed a joint commission to consider the advisability of electing a presiding bishop of the church. As president the senior bishop occupies this position and it is claimed that the duties are too heavy for an aged diocesan. The commission win report to the next convention.
 l Rev Francis Taitt, of Chester. Pa. was to-day elected assistant bishop of South Dakota.
 Many deputies left for home tonight 4 iand the convention will adjourn finally lto-morroW.