Evening journal., 1906-11-21
FORBID MARRIAGE
OF DIVORCES
Bishop Of Albany Says New
Canon Expresses NObOdy'S
Conviction
CHURCHEy BAN NEEDED

ALBANY, N. Y. Nov. 21.-The feat
ure Of the eighth annual convention of
the Protestant Episcopal diocese Of AL
bany was the address Of Right Rev.
William Croswen Doane. who, from the
foundation of the diocese, has been its
bishop. His widely known interest in
the subject of marriage and divorce
was displayed in his earnest references
to that subject, In the course of which,
after alluding with approval to the
meeting at Philadelphia of the congress
on uniform divorce laws, at which he
was present e said in part:
1T was a satisfaction for us to feel
that the calling Of this congress on
uniform divorce laws was really trace
able through the Governor of Pennsyl-
vania and the President OF the United
States, to the representations made to
the President by members Of the In
lterchurch Conference in January, 1905
The resolutions which it adopted re-
lated naturally and most wisely to
methods Of procedure rather than to
the question Of causes, and the final
form which the action took Is to be
embodied in the proposed statute.
which, while It enumerates several
causes for divorce as existing in diff
lferent States, viii express the opinion
Of the conference, that desiring to see
the number of causes reduced rather
than increase, this congress recon-
mends that no additional causes be re-
cognized in any state; and in those
states where causes are restricted no
change is called for Whatever result
is to be attained in dealing with this
most important question depends upon
three things. In the first place. what
Legislative action can be secured to
correct the methods Of procedure. In
the next place, what pressure can be
brought to bear by people who really
control and govern what is called So
ciety. And in the next place, by the
positive and definite outspokenness OF
the churches. And am increasingly
hopeful and anxious that this church
shall take the lead in a strong and de-
! finite position as to our relation at any
rate to the question Of the marriage OF
any divorced persons.
Until six years ago our canons
, quietly treated as possible the remar-
lriage Of the so-called innocent party tC
.. a divorce. with much confusion in the
, details of its language. Three years
ago the church made it difficult. But
this is really not dealing. it seems e
me, either frankly or fairly with tn,
, demand for relief.
Weary of the discussion and con.
tent to feel that the new canon make
remarriage more difficult, there is
tendency and temptation TO let tn
e sleeping dog lie, but the trouble i
: that this dog is not asleep.
Remedy Is Inadequate.
'T cannot believe that the churc
Ought to be content with a canon tina
u really expresses nobody's honest con
! victions. It casts a slur and a shadol
Z upon a marriage which some peopl
; think distinctly permitted by our Lore
o and it forces the hand TO a degree q
a. those of us who think otherwise. ]
d it is right, it ought not to be hedge
in with the difficulties. If il is wronl
r. IL ought to be impossible. Let US was
d our hands of the whole business. Ii
e the state which separates unite. An
:, without Celebrations Of detail or def
e lnitions of discipline let us simply for
f bid the clergy to give the church's ben
c ediction to any such marriage.
IT "All the while some statement is az
lpearing in the newspaper reports {
e the wholesale manufacture of divorce
e somewhere, and every now and thel
v out from the comparative obscurity
. many of the cases, one lifts up its ugl
% head into conspicuous disgrace becaus
II of the social position OF the wealth {
;, the parties. When such a case come
Ito present itself to which is called 50
ciety. what will society do? In seaso
! and out of season the Christian pulp
/, ought to call this thing by its rigl
name until the people who hold SON
y moral standards shall recognize III
y wrong and refuse to recognize III
Is wrongdoers Haunting their sin befoi
II the world"
y Inroads of Heresy.
=, Bishop Doane made no direct refer
ence to the case Of Rev. DR.. Algerno
+, r. Crapsey, whose suspension from II
functions Of Episcopal priesthood hs
been confirmed by the highest churC
y court of review, but on the subject
;" the alleged inroads Of modern CRITICS.
and Interpretation upon the reading
the Bible and the teachings Of Il
ie church he said in part:
ne "The Bible is largely an unread ar
IL unknown book to children and to peop
,g of middle age. The misuse and Il
ct misunderstanding Of criticism is r.
or sponsible for this in no slight degree
20 The bishop dealth at length upon Il
- Essentially of the historic fact" Of Il
:. virgin birth of Jesus, one of the card
nal faiths Of the Episcopal Church, wi
the denial of which DR.. Crapsey WI
- charged.
he