Evening star., 1911-08-09
BISHOPS ARE FIRM
Say Divorce Law Cannot Be
Broken for Astor.
FOUR EXPRESS OPINIONS
Bishop Doane Calls Proposed Wed
ding Outrage Against Decency."


NORTHEAST HARBoR, Me-, August
9.-Four Of the highest dignitaries Of the
Episcopal Church In the United States
Bishop David H. Greer Of New York.
Bishop Alexander Mackay-Smith OF Phil
adelphia, Bishop William Lawrence OF
Massachusetts dncluding Boston) and the
venerable Bishop William Croswell Doane
of Albany-all of whom are summering
on Mount Desert Island, said yesterday
they would not permit any clergyman
in any of their dioceses to solemnize the
proposed marriage Of Col John Jacob
Astor and Miss Madeleine Talmage Force.
Every one of the four bishops took the
same position-that the canon law OF
the Episcopal Church forbids such
union, and therefore it may not take
place with the sanction of the church.
Bishop Doane went further and dis
cussed the coming Astor marriage from
a purely personal point of view.
Il consider the proposed wedding OF
this young girl to Col. Astor a positive
outrage against public decency," said the
Bishop of Albany.
Il don't know what can be in the minds
of this young girls parents" he contin-
ued. Il suppose it is another instance OF
the eternal chase after money and what
part of the world is pleased to call posi-
ton.
But, consider facts. Here is a man,
Col. Astor, who has been duly adjudeed
guilty of adultery in a court of law. Is
that the kind of man parents who love
and respect their child should select or
approve as her husband? What matter
his riches? He is, in the eye Of the law.
an adulterer.
Must Recognize Law.
Surely the parents. even II they pro-
fess no religion. must recognize the law
of the land. Surely also they must know
that the laws Of New York state have
forbidden this man ever to marry again.
They must not only be aware of this.
but they must be at the present moment
discussing how. when and where they Will
evade the burden of this prohibition.
Bah! The whole thing disgusts me,
and l believe it is equally disgusting to
every man or woman who places the
has any respect for the marriage state,
and by that l include every normal man
and woman. The others-well. all they
seem to care about is little pride OF
place, a little more money. For these
they will sacrifice all the higher things
men nave striven for since the dawn OF
civilization.
Enough. The mere thought of such
marriages between the admittedly vicious
and the presumably innocent is abhorrent.
The parents of this child must bear the
blame if they find after perhaps but
little while that society, laughing in its
sleeves, has another choice morsel OF
scandal to chew over.
There is not, l trust, the slightest In
tention on the part of any one concerned
to seek 10 have this marriage performed
in my diocese. If such a thing should
be contemplated, l give them fair warn
jurisdiction dare officiate. for should
place him at once on trial for violation
of the laws of the church.
Agrees With Bishop Doane.
Bishop Greer's summer home is not far
from Bishop Doane's, overlooking another
part of the bay. The New York bishop
had just returned from a trip In his yawl
when a newspaper correspondent found
MN MY views on the subject of the re-
marriage Of divorced persons are entirely
in accord with those of Bishop Doane,"
said DR.. Greer. He and strove hard
at the last Episcopal convention. In Gin
cinnati, TO have the present canon altered
so it would conform with the words OF
the book of common prayer. which recog-
nizes no divorce ard prescribes that
the union Of man and wife shall last till
death do us part
you may rest assured of one thing
no Episcopal clergyman in the diocese OF
New York will marry Col. -Astor and Miss
Force / will not allow it, and II any
should be found who-let US not discuss
that The proposed marriage will not
take place in the diocese of which ! am
bishop
Il am officially ignorant OF the facts
in the Astor divorce suit By common
Jacob Astor was the innocent party in
that action, but / know nothing OF my
own knowledge.
Must Consult Bishop.
Before any divorced person may be
married by an Episcopal clergyman in
my diocese 1 must be consulted. as the
canon sets forth. My first duty then
will be to look into the facts, and my
first step would be to demand the courts
Judgment and the record. II 1t then ap-
pears that Mr.. Astor was the guilty par
ty-was an adulterer. in other words
then there can be no further discussion
as 10 the permission to remarry. 1t
would not be granted under any circum-
stances. The position In life OF Col A or
Gen. B or Capt. c. or his wealth or
standing in society would not weigh with
Il have granted licenses to marry again
to many innocent parties in divorce suits.
but / have always refused to ofhciate my
self and 1 intend to do so always I
trust some day our church. like the
Roman Catholic Church, will not recog-
nize divorce or any marriage after
divorce.
The whole foundation Of our social
system is threatened. I believe, by this
divorce evil. AS I look around the cir
Gle called society. and as my gaze reach
es out among the large confines Of the
people, see misery and unhappiness
made manifold by divorce Children grow
up to think nothing OF divorce In the
family. among their own parents even.
This is not purely a religious feel
ing. 1t is one that goes deeper, that
appertains to every instinct OF the hui
man race. Respect for marriage gone.