Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-06-14

New Haven, June 14.-The annual
convention of the Connecticut diocese
Of the Protestant Episcopal church be-
gan this morning at st Paul's church
with celebration Of the holy commun-
ion. A male choir composed largely
of clergymen of the diocese assisted at
this service.
! Bishop Chauncey D.. Brewster, who
| presided at the convention, said in his
annual address that he had visited
during the past year 126 places, had
delivered 215 sermons and addresses,
and had confirmed 1,694 persons. The
whole number of combinations for
the year, including SO by other bishops,
was 1,757. Six candidates have been
ordained to the diaconate, including
one for the bishop of Los Angeles, and
eight deacOns have been advanced to
the priesthood, eight clergymen have
been received into the diocese and
eleven have taken letters to other do
| cese. There are now twenty candi-
dates for holy orders.
Bishop Brewster paid fitting tribute
to the memories of five clergy ymen who
died during the year, the Rev Eaton
w. Marcy, d. D., the Rev Oliver
Prescott, the Rev Henry Tarrant, the
Rev Edward R. Brown and the Rev
Lindall w. SaItonstall.
Coming to the discussion of ques-
| tfons which are to be brought before
/ the approaching general convention
of the church, Bishop Brewster said
that while it was not his desire to in
| fiuence the action of the Connecticut
1 J1nY d< f>x.
intelligent interest on the part of all
the people, and demand the recognition
/ of great principles to be applied to
their settlement.
|. First and foremost" he continued
| sis the subject of marriage and di-
vOrce. In large parts of our country
prevails what is really an epidemic Of
social disease. The problem has for
some time engaged the attention and
/ earnest effort of wise men and not
| without good result. Civil legislation
regarding divorce is notably advancing
in the right direction. The thing great
/ ly to be desired is uniformity in di-
| yOrce laws. The method of state CO.
| operation would seem to be now that
(which promises most result. There
are reasons for hoping that We may see
before long enacted by large number
of state Legislatures uniform law re-
garding divorce. All the signs are full
of promise.
This church stands for high ideal
of marriage and discountenances di-
/ vorce Her canon forbids her minis
ters to solemnize the marriage Of any
person who has a divorced wife or
husband still living if such wife or
husband has been put away for my
cause arising after marriage. TO this
prohibition there is one exception bas-
ed upon the report in single gospel
of the words of our Lord differing in
this particular from the report given in
the other two gospels. Into this
question I shall not at this time enter.
] content myself with referring to the
familiar fact that our canonical ex-
ception based upon this passage has
proved to be an open door inviting
many appeals of cases claiming to
come within the spirit il not the letter
Of the canon. These appeals the bish
op, who is usually without training in
the weighing of evidence is asked to
decide, having before him only So
4 called evidence which is presented by
interested persons and is altogether
ex-parte. Nor is this all. Within my
knowledge because within my own ex-
perience there have been attempts to
by gross misrepresentation to deceive
the bishop, attempts fortunately de-
tected In time to prevent decisions
which In view Of actual facts, would
have involved inevitable scandal to the
church and disgrace to the bishops
office.
THUS 1 have been led to conclude
that even without pronouncina posi-
lively upon the genuineness of the
meaning OF the scriptural passage In
question, and considering the subject
only with regard to the present condi
tion OF things, it is time that this oper
door for such a train of evils should
be closed, while at the same time
think there is sufficient doubt regarding
the question to warrant the utmost
leniency toward the innocent party
who has elsewhere been married again
The refusal of the church to solemnizt
the marriage Of any divorced persons
would in some cases bear hard upon In
dfviduals, but here the interest of tht
individual must give way to the inter
est of society"
Bishop Brewster urged that Ger
tain comfy regarding the solemniza
, ton Of matTimOny would seem to bt
. at least as attainable between Chris
, tian churches as between civil states
] He added: 81 now venture to call 81
far as properly l may the attention O
our brethren, ministers of other com
, munions in our commonwealth to this
matter of ecclesiastical comfy. ant
/ would earnestly appeal to them to q
| as far as each one conscientiously car
) in refusing to perform the marriage
{ ceremony for any person whose mar
/ riage there is reason to believe is for
: hidden by the laws of the churcl
wherein such person has membership
Such an attitude If taken generally b.
the ministers throughout the state
would accomplish much toward reduc
ing to minimum an evil now widel,
recognized"
Discussing missions, Bishop Brew
ster spoke of problems touching tn,
2 black race He declared against an.
division of the church on color lines
. but thought it might be necessary t.
: devise some new machinery of ecclesi
astical organization or adjustment o
: tha nreSeut machinery He also urges