The Washington herald., 1906-12-07
REV. MOTT REBUKED
RemarrieS Divorced Person;
Disciplined by Satterlee.
BROKE NEW CHURCH CANON
Rector of Church of Advent SUBJ
jected to Unusual ReprimRnd in
of the Diocese-Minister Says He
Was Ignorant of the Law.

In the presence Of the Episcopal clergy
Of Washington at the Pro Cathedral
Church oE The Ascension. Bishop Satter-
lee solemnly reprimanded Rev. Edward
Marshall Mott. rector of the Church of
the Advent for breaking the canon law
OF the church by remarrying a divorced
person.
The rebuke, which is the first OF its
kind in the history of the Washington
Diocese. was administered last Monday,
but the matter was not made public until
yesterday. The names OF the persons
welded were withheld.
The canon violated by Rev MI Mott,
as put forth at the last general cOnven-
ton, provides that only the party pro-
curing a divorce on the ground Of adul-
tery.-the innocent party, in other words
can be remarked by a clergyman Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. and then
only after one year has elapsed since the
granting of the decree.
Bishop Must Pass on Case.
It is. also absolutely necessary that the
decree and proof showing that the re-
spondent was served personally, or ap-
peared in the suit, be laid before the
bishop. who then shall give his written
opinion TO the effect that all the conditions
Of the canon have been fulfilled. The
canon, however, also provides that any
clergyman may refuse 20 solemnize the
marriage OF any person having a husband
or wife living. IL he so desires.
When asked to make a statement last
night the Rev. Dr. Mott replied that the
incident was closed, so far as he was
concerned.
1T Is absolutely impossible for me to
divulge the names of the parties referred
to-" said Mr.. Mott. THAT is a point of
honor with me. But I will say that both
of the parties are Of good standing
have known them for many years, and am
personally acquainted with them.
"All 1 can do now It 10 be silent on the
subject Ignorance Of the law does not
protect any one, and think the publica-
ton of this affair. as much as 1 would like
to prevent It, will have its good points
It will make the people acquainted with
the canon law of the church as it stands
now. and there will be better care exer-
cised in the future by clergymen and by
people intending to marry.
Request Was Sudden.
Although knowing the parties that I
maTTlcd well. my services were requested
in such a sudden manner l was so un-
prepared that 1 was prevented from
thinking everything was not as it should
be. When I performed the ceremony
thought I was doing the proper thing;
il did not occur to me for one moment
that l was making a serious mistake.
Il have been in this city over twenty
years. I am well known he-e.a nd it has
always been my good fortune to be as
sociated with people in official life-with
the very best of them. I formerly was
attached 10 the Church of the Epiphany;
from there I went TO the Rock Creek
Church, after which I was placed in
charge of my present church.
Il did not know I was doing wrong;
I am sorry now that an error has been
committed. and. like a gentleman. l can
do nothing but accept the situation, and
regard the matter as closed incident"