New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-09
FAVOR SUMMERS PLAN
Clergy Here See Much Good in
Marriage-HeaIth Certificates.
CHURCH MAY TAKE IT UP
Doubt Expressed as to Whether
Chicago's Idea Could Be
Carried Out.

Many New York ministers favor the re-
cent ruling Of the Rev Dr. Walter Taylor
Sumner. of the Protestant Episcopal
Cathedral Of S.. Peter and Paul, Chicago,
that no persons will he married at the
cathedral I'm the future unless they can
present certificates OF health signed by a
reputable physician. The clergy in this
city believe THAT the idea is good one
and would eventually benefit the human
race to a marked degree.
The question of eugenlcs has occupied the
attention of men OF ideas in the last decade.
and particularly the clergy, and they. hav-
ing studied the subject. are readily APP
pealed to by Dean Summers scheme. But
whether or not I'm this age it can be car
ried into effect is the question: whether the
public is yet sufficiently educated to ac-
cept such an idea.
The Rev. DR.. Charles L. Goodell. pastor
of Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church, is
one Of the advocates OF the idea.
II am in harmony with it," he said last
night There is no doubt that some Of
the marriage contracts are menaces to So
ciety. and there should certainly be some
method OF preventing the morally and
physically incOrrigible from marrying and
entailing their wrong, moral and physi-
cal influences on future society. The plan
is ideal but whether II can be carried INTO
practice now / doubt. For instance. In the
case Of examination, mans health may
be good at times and at other times 1t may
not be. This would interfere with the
scheme Of medical examination. This IS
only one of the aspects"
The Rev. Or. Addison Moore, pastor or
the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, said:
Pm heartily in sympathy with the plan,
and think most clergymen are In line
with IT,"
Nothing has been done by any body OF
ministers as a unit in this city along Dean
Summers idea but there is possibility Of
such action. The diocesan convention or
the Protestant Episcopal Church will be
held next November. and 1t is said that
some OF the delegates will present sugges-
tions stimulated by the Chicago plan.
II have not studied the subject intently
vet" said the Rev. Dr. Charles Lewis Stat
terry rector of Grace Church, but | am
persuaded that something will eventually
have to be done by state control. II Is
needed. Anything that is essentially good
for the race should be put into effect"
Another Episcopal clergyman, the Rev
George 4. Strong, favored the plan. He
said:
The idea is intrinsically good but
whether it is capable OF adoption on a
large scale right now / am not sure. l
doubt whe-her il would be possible at the
Of engenics is a comparatively new one,
and We must educate our public before they
will ADOPT such desirable plan"
An entirely new point was brought out by
tie Rev. DR. Henry \. Stimson. of the
Manhattan Congregational Church. lie
thinks that the mothers and fathers could
do most toward the enacting OF such
church law.
II don't see how the ministers could carry
out the idea. right now" he said. ITS
exceedingly desirable But the difficulty is
that If certain ministers advocate the
scheme and say they are committed to 1t.
reople will 80 to justices of the peace, and
ecclesiastical ceremonies will go out OF use.
Thar will throw the onus on the churches.
Parents should put themselves on record as
for tho plan. and this will help It mate
rally. There is need of ii. This is shown
nv tbe fact that Or Sumner. who has had
0ne opportunity to study conditions in Chi
cago has advocated IT,
one man who does not believe such a
scheme can be carried into effect In this
age is the Rev Merle ST. CroiX Wright, OF
tho Lenox Avenue Unitarian Church.
IT'S an admirable regulation for the
r.iIlenium." he said. but the millennium
he not come vet I would be glad to sub