The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-14

Boston, October IA proposed
change in the canons of the Episcopal
church, whereby clergymen are forbid
den 10 remarry any person who has been
divorced was discussed for two hours
by House of Deputies at today's ses-
sion of the Episcopal general owen
ton.
The House Of Deputies was sitting as
a committee of the whole and the con-
sideration OF the subject regarded as
one Of the most important to come be-
fore the present convention, will be
taken up from time to time, until the
matter is finally disposed Of. The pres
ent canon on marriage permits the re-
marriage Of the innocent persons in ..
divorce suit wherein infdelity is alleg-
ID. For some time there has been a
.ols sentiment in the church that the
Gerry Should not marry the innocent
party.
The committee on canons, of which
Rev. J. P. Davenport, of Memphis,
Tenn, is chairman, presented an
amendment to the present canon for
All III IIo5C vi dly iSollS vi
have been divorced. A minority report
permitting the present canon to remain
as it is, with the exception of an added
provision for the presentation or court
evidence when an applicant for re-
marriage appears before a Clergyman,
was submitted by Rev. DIR. ]. Lewis
Parks of New York and others.
Rev HOr DarGg p n DottIp Of Pa
leigh, N. c., and Rev. G.. B. VanWa-
tiers, of Portland, Ore, spoke in behalf
of the minority report, while the major
ity report was advocated by Rev. John
Williams, Of omaha, Neb.; Z. 2. Bailey,
of Chicago; Rev. Samuel Ringgoid, Of
Knoxville, Tenn, and G. H. Stanley,
of Washington, D.. c.
r. H. Battle, of Raleigh, n. c., a
member of the committee, thought that
a civil court in America should adjudge
any one. to be divorced unless the cause
appeared in the records and declared
that the breaking of a vow Of covenant
taken in the marriage ceremony by one
of the principals frees the other, accord
ing to the practice of common law. He
said there was nothing in the prayer
book to prevent the remarriage Of the
innocent person.
Rev. John Williams, Of omaha, Neo.,
thought that if the deputy of North
Carolina was correct in his argument
as to the marriage VOW, the church
had laws as loose as those of South
Dakota.
Two members announced that since
the San Francisco convention three
years ago they had been converted to
the side Of those who oppose the remar-
riage of divorced persons. They Were
E. P. Bailey, of Chicago and Rev. DR..
Samuel Ringgold, of Knoxville, Tenn.
The church, said DR.. Ringgold, has no
power to unmarry and should have none
| to remarry any one.
The committee arose and was given
permission to AXE up the matter later
in the week.
Right Edwin G.. Weed, bishop
of Florida, who has been confined 10 his
hotel, on account of an injury received
| in New York, appeared in the House
of bishops for the first time during the
convention today.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was
present during the debate.
The members of the House of Bishops
in the individual capacity have ar
ranged to present the archbishop with
a mammoth loving cup.
The House of Bishops today voted
in favor of conSecrating a bishop for
Cuba. The Cuban field is now under
the supervision of Right Rev. James II.
VanBuren. bishop of Porto Rico. 1t is
understood that if the House of Depu-
ties endorses the action of the bishops
a diocesan for cuba will be chosen al
the present convention.