Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-20

i = II
| in his earnest references to that subject.
! in the course of which, after abiding with
approval to the meeting at Philadelphia
| OF the congress on uniform divorce laws,
at which he was present. he said, in part:
1T was a satisfaction for US to feel that
the calling of this congress on uniform
divorce laws was really traceable, through
the governor of Pennsylvania and the
President of the United States, to the rep
RESERVATIONS made to the President by men,
bers of the interchurch conference in jan
uary, 1900. The resolutions which IL adopt
ed related 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 proposed statute which. while 1t enum-
crates several causes for divorce as exist
ing in different states, will express the
opinion Of the conference. that Desiring
to see the number of causes reduced rather
than increased, this congress recommends
that no additional causes be recognized in
any state; and in those states where causes
are restricted no change is called for
Dependent Upon Three Things.
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 So
cured to correct the methods Of procedure.
In the next place. what pressure can be
brought to bear by people who really con-
troll and govern what is called society. And
in 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 to our relation q
any rate to the question of remarriage Of
any divorced persons.
Until six years ago our canons quietly
a g nnSSihlR the remarriage of the
so-calIed innocent party to a divorce, with
much confusion in the details of its LAM
guage. Three years ago the church made II
difficult But this is really not dealing. II
seems to me. either frankly or fairly with
the demand for relief.
Slur and Shadow.
weary of the discussion and content to
feel that the new canon makes remarriage
more difficult, there is a tendency and
temptation to let the sleeping dog lie. but
the trouble is that this dog is not asleep. /
cannot believe that the church ought to be
content with a canon that really expresses
nobody's honest convictions 1t casts a
slur and shadow upon a marriage which
some people think distinctly permitted BY
our Lord, and 1t forces the hand, to a de-
gree of those of us who think otherwise.
If it is right it ought not to be hedged In
with the difficulties. If 1t is wrong. 1t
ought to be impossible. Let us wash our
hands of the whole business. Let the state
which separates unite. And, without elab-
Grafton of detail or definitions of discipline.
let US simply forbid the clergy to give the
church's benediction to any such marriage.
..All the while some statement 10 ap-
gearing in the newspaper reports OF the
wholesale manufacture of divorces some
where and every now and then. from the
comparative obscurity of many OF tho
cases, one lifts up Its ugly head into con-
spicuous disgrace because of the social
position or the wealth of the parties. When
such a case comes to present Itself to what
is called society. what viii society do?
Bible Unread.
I'm season and out of season, the Chris
tan pulpit ought to call this thing by Its
right name, until the people who hold some
moral standards shall recognize the wrong
doors Haunting their sin before the world"
Bishop Doane made no direct reference
to the case of Rev. DR.. Algernon r. Crap
sey whose suspension from the functions Of
Episcopal priesthood has been confirmed
by the highest church court OF review,
but on the subject of the alleged inroads
OF modern criticism and Interpretation upon
the reading OF the Bible and the teachings
of the church he said in part:
The Bible Is largely an unread and un-
known book to children and 20 people OF
middle age. The misuse and the ,nlsunder-
standing Of criticism is responsible for this
In no slight degree
The bishop dealt at length upon the es-
sentiality of the historic fact OF the
virgin birth Of Jesus, one Of the cardinal
denial Of which DR.. Crapssy was charged