New-York tribune., 1904-10-23
no DIVORCE PACT YET.
Episcopal Bishops Amend Compro-
mise adopted By Deputies.

Boston. Oct. 22.-At the close OF The fifteenth
anv OF the Episcopal General Convention. the
House Of Bishops and the House Of Deputies
were SIN Al variance on the question OF mar
rage and divorce. The issue VIII be taken De-
fore the latter body week for the third tine
tn the convention, the bishops having declined 10
accent without amendment the compromise
measure adopted by the deputies on Thursday
The amendment 70 the divorce canon originally
eEreed on by the bishops forbade the reraarTlage
- anv divoroed person the deputies declining
10 alter the old canon. which permitted the re-
marriage of the innocent person in divorce
sor tn6delitv al any time. AS compromise the
Identities later. by an almost unanimous vote
amended the original canon so that the innocent
person could not be remarked in Pe church
vvithfn one year after The divOreeJthe court
records and other satisfactory evidence 10 be
laid before the bishops 70 show that the appA-
eant was really Innocent. The amendment also
eZonsrated clergymea from al oensure should
they decline 20 perform the ceremony
The House OF Bishops to-day. by vote OF
30 10 2S. amended Tire compromise so that the
bishop Of diocese viii not be required 70 issue
q Mcense. for the renarriage Of the innocent per
son, even should the court evidence be satisfac-
tory but viii be merely called or TO declare n
writing that IN his judgment the case or tne
applicant conforms 70 the requirements Of the
canon. The bishops also amended the clause re-
ferring 70 the administration OF sacranents so
that Y any priest is IN doubt 20 the regularity
Of the marriage OF eny person he shall refer
the case 70 The Sishop- The compromise canon
Of the deputies obliged clergymen 10 administer
the sacraments to the innocent person Il sat
ished that he or she were really innocent
The House OF Bishops concurred with the
deputies in the adoption Of an amendment intro
epced by the Rev. Dr Huntington. Of New
York by which special forms Of worship for
forelgn. congregations affiliated with the Church
are permitted
The attendance IN the House Of Deputies was
Hcht this forenoon ". A Robinson. OF Louis
Vile. offered & resolution providing for the ap-
pointrrent of a Joint COMMITTEES TO consider
proposition FOR the election Of presiding bishop
q the Church the committee 10 report to the
next general convention. The matter was placed
on the calendar. The committee on the state OF
The Church submitted a long report in which it
was announced that the number Of communi-
csnts had reached S04.S0S, an increase Of per
cent in the last three years. The increase IN the
nst Of clergyuen was 60 per cent They now
number 54I9 The number Of new churches IN
the three years was 2S7, and the number Of new
congregations had increased at the average rate
2 Of three each week. The Rev. Or. H C. Duncan.
~ Alexandria Va. in presenting the report. took
DcCdalQl 10 SlaLe LndL Afe AlQINu Al-c LlACiiA
Of both capital and labor and that It stood ready
Et al times TO assist both IN maintaining peace.
The committee indorssd the work Of the Church
Association for the Advancement Of the Inter
ests OF Labor. A decline in family worship and
IN Individual piety the neglect Of Christian edu-
cation for technical education, hagrant disregard
of Sunday observance and the danger lurking in
the sensational character OF much CT the present
dsy literature were deplored by the committee.
and members Of the Church were aduonished to
avoid these evils The house accepted the re-
port. and voted TO request the bishops 70 issue q
pastoral letter al the close Of the convention on
Tuesday reZt- The diocese Of West Missouri
was authorized 10 change its name in concur
renee with a vote Of the bishops.
4 new canon seeking 10 improve the mission
ary regulations Of the Church. reported by the
committee on canons. was adopted by the depu-
ties. a clause con2Pels al churches TO make Z
sion board. II appears that 1900 parishes failed
10 contribute 10 missions last year. The House
0f Deputies cOncurred with the bishops In ap-
pointing committee 70 extend work among
sailors Bishop Henry c. Potter. Of NeW-York
heads the committee. Among the large num-
ing the observance OF Sunday. II reads as fol-
lows:
Al persons within this Church shall celebrate
end keep the Lords Day, commonly called Sun
day, by regular participation in the public wor-
ship or the Church. by hearing the Word Of
Coo read and taught and by Other acts of
devotion and works of charity, using all godly
znd sober conversation
The old canon did not specifically state that
persons should attend Sunday services.
-s-