Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-10-04
EPISCOPALIANS TO
PROHIBIT DIVORCE,
1ron-Clad Canon to Be Adopted by the
General Convention at Rich
mOnd

RICHMOND. Va, Sept 80. TSpe-
cial.l-The intellect and power of the
Protestant Episcopal church of the Unit
ed States will be concentrated in Rich
mond this week when the triennial con-
vention will be held. On every train dis
unguished bishops active clergymen and
influential laymen from all parts of the
country have been pouring into the city,
until even the hotel corridors for once in
their history, might be mistaken for the
vesubules of churches. 50 numerous
thereabout are men of prieStly mien. At
many OF the ariStocratic residences biSh-
ops and clergymen have found splendid
quarters.
J. Plerpont Morgan to Attend
Among the notable arrivals today were
many of the bishops of the church. in
Guiding the venerable Bishop futile, who
Will preside over the triennial session
The bishop OF London is another prOmi-
nent visitor who will receive much at
tention. J. Pierpont Morgan, with his
guests, will arrive tonight or tomorrow
morning in his private car and take pos
session of the private house which he has
rented for $1,000 Il month.
Sessions Begin Wednesday.
Wednesday morning at II o'clock the
begin. The day will be ushered in by
the celebration of holy communion in all
of the Episcopal churches of the city
At Holy Trinity services will be held at
both and 5 o'clock, and at 9 o'clock
prayer and litany will be celebrated after
which the church will be put in readiness
for the ceremonial celebration of the day
At II O'Clock the bishops will form in
procession and march to the church
They will be clad in the robes of their Of
flee and will be preceded by the choir
The professional hymn will be sung as
the choir and bishops enter the church
Bishop futile will preside over the cere-
monies At o'clock the first session Of
the convention will be held.
Much Important Business
Seldom if ever before in its history has
the triennial convention met with so
much important business to transact.
Two leading questions which are expect
ed to cause much discussion will be the
advocacy of canon to prohibit abSo-
lutely the remarriage of divorced persons
by ministers of the Episcopal church.
and plan for the creation of negro bish-
ops.
At the last convention of the church Il
canon was adopted which permitted the
clergy to remarry the innocent party III
case, but only after year had elapsed
from the time of the decree AS the rule
vorced for any other cause than adultery
may not be remarked by its clergy.
Put Ban on Divorce
At the last convention advocates of the
canon prohibiting any remarriage of di-
vor"ed persons were numerically in the
majority, but the convention votes by
diOceSeS. and the rigoriSts were Out-vOted.
1t is predicted that at the present gather
ing they will succeed in having the canon
adopted and the remarriage of divorced
persons entirely prohibited.
Bishops for Negro Churches.
The proposal to create separate negro
districts in the Episcopal diocpses in the
south, with negro bishops to take charge
of them will meet with strong opposition
in the convention. At present no division
between white and coOred communicates
exists, and the only negro bishop i'll the
church is stationed i'll Africa.
Change Western Dioceses.
In addition to the two great questions
to come before the convention many 9th
erS of minor Importance will be cOnsd-
cred. 1t is probable that the convention
may elect another bishop for Episcopal
ians in Mexico. 4 Encouragement of Il
large part of the Rocky mountain region
i'll its relation to the administration of
the church is urged. and if the recommen-
dation is carried out it will mean the ere
atiCn Of new diOcCSeS and the election of
new bishops. 1t is probable, i'll fact, thac
the present convention will break all rec
orGs as to the number of new bishops to
be elected by it.
In addition to these changes in the far
west are several proposed divisions of
dioccSeS. Georgia is to be divided, and
there is possible Il Encouragement of Ohio.
making three diocPses there instead of
two Discussion will also be had as to
the disposition of Minnesota and Iowa,
where conditions have outgrOwn present
Episcopal forces. 1t is possible also that
the southern Illinois dioce: and that of
pittsburg may be divided.
Celebrate the Ter centennial
The observance of the ter-centennial of
the landing at jamestown of English set
tiers and the establishment of the serv-
ices of the Church of England in America
will occupy some of the time of the gen
eraI convention, which will be in scs Hor
about four weeks. \ feature of the OBJ
servance will be the presentations of a
thank offering by the men of the EpisCa-
pal church for the progress of the pas:
three centuries.