Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-26
CHURCH LAW INVIOLATE.
! Bishop Of London Explains Deceased
Wife's Sister, LEGISLATION,

! Bishop Of London Explains Deceased
Wife's Sister, Legislation.
NEW YORK, September 26.-The Bishop
of London, the Ri. Rev. Arthur F. Win
| nington-Ingram, talked yesterday about the
letter on the so-called deceased Wifes sis
ter bill which he addressed to the clergy of
his diocese Just before he sailed for America
last month. He said that the house of lords
had added amendments to the bill giving
the church liberty to act according to it's
conscience, and that. in any case, the law
of the church was entirely distinct from
that of the state.
Bishop Ingram when appointed by King
Edward within few weeks after he came
to the throne in 1901 the youngest man
ever head of the great metropolitan diocese
He was at the time Bishop Suffragan Of
Stepney, in London, and previously had en-
deared himself to the masses of the East
End of London. where he worked for many
years as head Of Oxford House, which, stu
of London. is said to have been the first
successful SUM settlement institution.
Punch Poem on Bishop.
His popularity and the varied demands
which were consequently made upon him
while Bishop of Stepney have been amusing
| ly commemorated by Punch in it's Lay of
| the Suffering Bishop:
From morn till evening from evening till night
! preach and organize lecture and write.
And all over London my gathered legs 6y-
Was ever bishop SO busy L?
When writing my sermons the best of nv work'I
Be done In the trains ON the Underground circle;
can write one complete, with a fine per.ration.
Between Charing Cross and Mansion House station.
For luncheon 1 swallow a sandwich of ham.
Or with excellent appetite viii discuss ''An''
A halfpenny bun on Waterloo bus
| No table is snowy with damask for me:
My cloth is the apron that covers my knee;
The frugal repasts of this Suffragan Bishop
Bishop Ingram said yesterday that he had
written to his clergy regarding the de-
ceased wife's sister bill because the meas
| ure had raised real difficulty in the minds
| of many clergymen and laymen. Before
! the bill was passed no social questions had
| been raised by deceased wifeS sister liv-
| ing with her brother-in-laW and taking care
| of his children. But soon as the state
made it lawful for these to marry 1t was
| thought by some improper for them to con-
! tinue to live in the same house.
Recipient Of Many Letters.
81 received several letters from widowers
whose sisters-in-law were living with them,
asking if they ought to send them away"
| said the bishop, land 1 told them, by no
| means. And 1 instructed my clergy not to
| solemnize marriages according to the bill
| nor allow the use of their churches for
! such marriages. The house of lords Sc
cured important amendments to the bill
which allowed the clergy of the Church of
England to do this.
Il took this stand for two reasons.
First, because l thought the bill would
work hardship to many families of the
middle classes and would be beneficial to
| only few rich men who had been break
it has been the policy of the church for sew
eral hundred years not to countenance
| such marriages."
Bishop Ingram remarked that there were
| two bishops of the English Church who had
| lost their wives and whose children We're
| being cared for by their mothers sister,
and that public opinion would never. he
| thought, discouHtenance these any other
| sisters living with their brothers-in-law.
Church Is Free to Act.
! 1t was told the bishop that the question
| had been raised in this country of how it
| was possible for the law of the church to
| contradict, and even supersede, the law of
] the land In this particular instance. the
! bishop said, amendments to the bill left the
church free to act as it liked.
| But" said Bishop Ingram, eff at any
| time the state should enact legislation for
| the church which was against the con-
science of the church we should dissolve
| partnership"
| He was asked how this would be done
| and II the state would allow 1t.
why, it would be just as If you wanted
| to go that way. and I said, No, I'm going
this way" said the bishop, pointing to
where the path divided. 1.-The state could
not force the church to act contrary to its
| conscience"
Bishop Ingram will preach In Trinity
Church today at noon, and tomorrow goes
| to Washington, where, he will visit the
President and speak on several occasions.
| He spent yesterday on the golf links near
Garden City, L. l., getting what he said
1 naeda1 a
of continual speaking and travelling in
Canada
To Talk on Municipal Ownership.
Bishop Ingram spent yesterday away
| from the city resting. In the afternoon he
played golf at the Garden City Golf Club.
IT appreciate the interest that Is being
taken in my visit, and when my official
duties are ended I hope to be able to en-
| tighten your people on some of the con-
| ditions in England at the present time" he
said when asked about the progress of
| socialism in England. MY principal mis-
| sion in America is spiritual. and until that
| Is ended do not feel at liberty to discuss
political matters. On my return from the
| south, about October q, I shall be pleased
| to talk of some Of the causes which led to
ship undertakings contemplated by the
progressives in London before their defeat
| last spring"
| On his southern trip the lord bishop will
| present a Bible to the oldest Episcopal
church in America in the name of the king
He spoke in Trinity Church at noon to-
! day.