Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-13
Discussion of Divorce Ques-
ton a Revelation to Laymen.
EPISC0PALIANS ARGUE
OF CANTERBURY
PRESENT FOR TIE LAST TIME.
Presented With Loving Cup and Ad-
dress-Intense Interest of Women
in Auxiliary Work.

Special Dispatch The Evening Star.
BOSTON. Mass, October 13.-The subject
of marriage and divorce grows in impor-
lance. Depths are being reached which
were unsupported by the lay mind. The
probability is that action will be taken
changing the canon at this time.
AS one lawyer yesterday afternoon SAID:
I'VE will displease the church and offend
the public to decide question Of such I'M
portance by close vote. Let us go home"
he said. land learn better the will of the
church Meantime. let teach the young
the principles and sentiments that should
control marriage"
MIR Buxton, too of North Carolina was
opposed to immediate action. but for diff
ferent reasons. Mr.. Buxton is conspicuous
for two incidents in his career, his i'm
mense size and his collapse in trying to
present resolution against Bishop Potter.
He is an intemperant temperance man.
When he rose to speak he was very soon
Intentionally wandering and commenced d.
rectly against the saloon and indirectly
against the bishop of New York. He was
soon called to order and raped down.
Difficult to Confine to Main Point.
1t has been very difficult to confine at
tention to the main point, the revision of
the canon. even when the speakers have
been logical. The whole subject unearths
many difficulties in the way of iegisla-
ton
Mr.. Thomas of Columbia s. c.. the only
state in the Union prohibiting, absolutely,
divorce for any cause, made reply to the
assertion that stringency of law produced
laXity morals. After proving that I'M
true, Mr.. Thomas went on to show that the
people of his state are entirely satisfied by
the working of the law. Being a member
of the legislature his opinion was favor
ably received.
One speaker pointed out that the change
of the canon would affect the standing of
clergymen who granted remarriage to an
innocent party by asserting by an i'm
plication the guilt of the other; and so he
might be liable to civil prosecution.
The bishops, in sending messages to the
deputies. chose the time just before the
closing of the session. At that time the
venerable secretary comes in. passes up
the aisle and solemnly hands the MESA ges
to the secretary. who passes them to the
chairman. who reads them to the house.
The messages may be mere announce
ments or concurrences, or requests for con-
currence.
Yesterday the bishops announced that
RI Rev DR.. Jaffer, bishop of southern
Ohio. had resigned his jurisdiction on ac-
count of infirmities of age.
Praise for Sunday School Children.
The bishops also took occasion to praise
the efforts of the children of the Sunday
schools in collecting money for missions.
The amount was beyond any other quad
rannium.
Permission was granted that a bishop of
Cuba be elected and that jhe name of west
Missouri be changed to Kansas. A joint
committee was made to consider the resig-
nations or bishops. Among these will be
ira kar of SyyIx- MO
of Montana and Nichols of California
On the platform yesterday afternoon sat
the archbishop for the last time. He went
to the house of bishops. where he was pre-
scented with silver loving-cup and the fol-
loving address. signed by all the bishops:
ITO his grace, the archbishop of Canter-
bury:
The house of bishops. recognizing the
value and helpfulness of your gracious
presence with them during this session of
the general convention. and with a keen
realization of the added satisfaction which
your own most gracious personality has
given to its official character, asks the privi-
lege of Offering this piece of silver, which
they hope will find place on the table of
most catholic hospitality in the guard room
OF Lambeth Palace, with the request that it
may be counted as a personal gift to your
grace and Mrs. Davidson
various meetings show the intense in
terest taken by the members of the wom-
ans auxiliary in all church work.
Minority Report Withdrawn Today.
The convention met at 10 o'clock TODAY.
Rev. DR.. McKim in the chair. The west
Texas diocese delegates were granted seats
as new body. After some debate upon
the order of the day, coming up at IL
O'CLOCK. the house became committee of the
Whole. and Mr.. Packard took the chair
Rev. DR.. Parks of New York created some
surprise by asking in behalf of those Of
fering minority reports that the report be
withdrawn The request was granted. and
the discussion proceeded upon the majority
reLort.
Two strong speeches at once followed in
favor of adopting this meaure
Mr.. Lewis of Pennsylvania, of the COM
mittee. contended for it for four reasons
fist against the assertion that the Ameri-
can conscience must be consulted. Mr.
Lewis urged that the American con-
science must be educated Then the
adoption of this report would keep the Epis-
CtPa1 Church in the prominence of leader
ship which 1t now enjoys AS to exegesis
scholars confuse business men. AS long.
however, as there Is doubt about that pas
sage the present day needs and demands
that the church act promptly. Last, said
Mr.. Lewis, I'VE must know the innocency.
/ want to go home and tell my people that
the Episcopal Church has gone out of the
remarrying business"
Cries of Hear. hear showed the trend
as Mr.. Lewis concluded at this hour.
Extreme Speed in Remarrying.
This was followed by a gentleman citing
cases of extreme speed in remarrying. The
speaker thought something must be done.
The tide in feeling seemed to turn with a
speech from Rev. DIR. Grammar of southern
Virginia. DIR. Grammar is always heard.
His main contention was that if the radical
change is made the il nocent party will not
orly go elsewhere for his or her right of re-
marriage, but the church will no longer be
regarded as protecting the home by it's shell
tering arm.
Harding's Forceful Speech.
Rev. DR.. Harding of Washington made a
very forceful speech in favor of changing
the canon He said: THE church can full
fill her obligation to teach by making this
change We are not responsible for civil
enactments. We are responsible for having
our canon and prayer book agree: at pres
ent they disagree: again the words in the
present canon, Innocent party allows too
much laxity in our illustrations. 1t can
not be gainsaid that our clergymen often
are thereby led to remarry the guilty
party.