Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-20
MARRIAGE
AND DIVORCE
Bishop Doane Treats Subject at
Length Before Protestant Epis-
copaI Convention.
PRESENTS MANY DIFFICULTIES
Clergy should Refuse to Marry hi.
,orced Persons, Leaving Matter
Entirely 10 the state.

Albany n. Y, Nov. 2O--The thirty
eighth annual convention OF the Prot
ostant Episcopal diocese of Albany
convened in All Saints cathedral In
TINS city today. The feature of prin-
opal public interest was the address OF
III. Rev. William CrosWel Doane. who,
from the foundation OF the diocese. has
been It's bishop. His widely known
interest IN the subject OF marriage
and divorce was again displayed in his
earnest reference 10 that subject, IN
the course OF which after abiding
with approval to the meeting at Phila-
delphla OF the congress on uniform
divorce laws. at which he was present,
he said IN mart.
Whatever result is to be attained IN
dealing with this most important Dues
ton 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 society? And. I'm the
next place. by the positive and def
mite outspokenness Of the churches.
And / am Increasingly hopeful and
anxious that this church shall take the
lead in a strong and definite position
as 10 our relation at any rate to the
question of the re-marriage OF any
divorced persons.
Until six years ago our canons
quietly treated as possible the re-mar-
rage Of the so-caled innocent party 10
a divorce, with much confusion i'm the
details of its language. Three years
ago the church made IL different But
this IL really not dealing either frank
ly or fairly with the demand for relief.
Weary OF the discussion and con-
tent TO feel that the new canon makes
re-marriage more difficult, there is a
tendency and temptation to let the
sleeping dog lie, but the trouble is that
this dog IL not asleep | cannot believe
that the church ought to be content
with canon that really expresses no.
body's honest convictions. II casts
SUR and n shadow upon a marriage
which some people think distinctly per-
mitted by our Lord. and II forces the
hand To degree. Of those OF us who
think otherwise, II 1t is right IL ought
not TO be hedged IN with the difficulties.
II II IL wrong. il ought 20 be impos-
sible. Let US wash our hands OF the
whole business. Let the state which
separates unite. And without elabora-
tions OF detail or definitions OF discipline
~ ~ Nfittl9 A't biu Inv tlNFkl 10 klNn
the churchs benodction to any such
marriage,
IAN the while some statement is Az
uearing IN the newspaper reports OF tne
wholesale manufacture OF divorces
somewhere and every now and then,
from tho comparative obscurity of
many OF the cases one lifts UP its ugly
head into conspicuous disgrace. because
of the social position or the wealth OF
the parties, The Christian pulpit ought
to call this thing by its right name un-
I'll those who hold some moral stan
dards shall recognize the wrong and
refuse to recognize the wrongdoers
Haunting their sin before the world"
Upon the reading OF the Bible md
the teachings of the church. Bishop
Doane said In part
THE Bible Is largely an unread and
unknown book TO children and to peo-
pie OF middle age. The misuse and
the misunderstanding OF criticism Is
responsible for this in no slight de-
gree"
The bishop dwelt at length upon the
esseNiality OF THE historic fact OF
the virgin birth Of Jesus Christ one OF
the cardinal faiths Of the Episcopal
church, with the denial of which Or.
Crapsey was charged.