The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-10
DENOUNCE ASTOR MARRIAGE
PRELATES or MANY CHC RICHES
SPEAK ~ REPROOF.
Bishop schw ebach says Miss Force Is Be.
Ing Sacrificed 10 wealth and social
Ambition IBad for the YOUNG
woman. says bishop whitehead.

Ing Sacrificed 10 wealth and social
Ambition Had for the YOUNG
woman. says bishop whitehead.
LACROSSE, Wis. Aug. e.-That the COM
ing marriage Of John Jacob Astor to
Madeleine Force will he the sacrifice Of "A
young and innocent girl upon the altar
Of greed, was the declaration Of the Right
Rev. James Schwebach, Bishop OF the
Lacrosse Diocese Of the Roman Catholic
Church. to-day. Bishop Schwebach de-
clared that the marriage would be illegal
In the eyes Of the law. The parents Of
the girl are willing TO sacrifice her for
wealth and social position. he said.
FOND pu Lac. Wis. Aug. p.-Bishop
| Charles G. Grafton commenting on the
approaching wedding Of Col. John Jacob
Astor to Miss Madeline Force. said to-day
| that he held the same opinion as that
| expressed by Bishop Suffragan Charles
s. Burch Of the Episcopal diocese Of New
York who said the ma jority OF the Bishops
and ministers Of the church are opposed
to divorced persons remarrying at all,
although the laws Of the church do not
prohibit absolutely such marriages.
Bishop Grafton said he would take the
same stand as the New York prelate
were similar circumstances to raise
within his jurisdiction.
CINCINNATI. Aug. a.--"While the Astor
case is nothing worsc than many others.
l am glad to see that the newspapers and
| the people Of this country are so decided
against the wedding" said Bishop John
NJ. Walden Of the Methodist Episcopal
| Church this afternoon.
Bishop David II. Moore Of the same
church says this present case is nothing
less than disgracefu'.
Bishop Boyd Vincent of the Episc opal
church is quoted az saying that he will
neither of'iciate noI allow this wedding
| TO be held in any OF the churches Of his
denomination in the southern diocese of
Ohio.
Il think the present case shows that
public disapproval through the press can
work great good in any line and there
fore ! speak as "A churchman against the
open rebellion to the laws OF the church
by the so-called society-elect." said
Bishop Walden. NO minister of any
Christian church could properly perform
the ceremony at the Astor-Force we'd
| ding"
Bishop Moore says. -The supposed
spectacle of this wedding is really awful
| 1t not only has the permission Of society
but will be attended by the society people
| I do not think it right to allow men or
women to accumulate wives or husbands
rs they allow fishermen to acquire fish.
However. we must blame the greater part
Of this practice on the women They
| sanction the violation OF the law by telling
| the men they will marry them. They
should refuse. and then We will have a
better state of affairs in America"
PITTsBURO. Aug. 8.-Bishop Cortland
Whitehead OF the Episcopal Church here
and twenty-three clergymen OF various
denominations to-day went on record
| a. opposed to the proposed marriage Of
Col. John Jacob Astor and Miss Madeleine
Talmage Force.
Il think with Bishop Doane of New
York. said Bishop Whitehead. that this
marriage should not take place and that
IL is impossible for any Episcopalian
! Force. Such a thing would he contrary TO
the laws OF the Church and to tho New
| Testament. too.
| IT is too bad for the young woman.
as II must place her in an embarrassing
| position or COURSE they may get a min
ister of some other church TO unite them.
but that only shows that tho standards
Of some churches in this matter are not
as high as they should be The whole
affair shows too the necessity Of a uni
form marriage and divorce law; right and
wrong are questions of the soul. not of
| State lines
| The Rev 4 Alexander of the Good
Shepherd Church declares that any min
lister of the Episcopalian Church il he
perform the Astor Force services should
de deposed