New-York tribune., 1912-04-08
PRIESTS Of WORCESTER
UPHOLD DR.. SUMNER
With One Exception They Favor
Health Certificate Before
Marriage.
EPISCOPAL RECTORS DIFFER
Bishop Davies, of Western Mas.
sachusetts, Doubts Practica-
bility of Plan and Many
Concur with Him.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune :


Worcester, Mass. April The ruling or
decree put into effect by the Rev Dr. Wal
ter TAYLOR Sumner. Of the Protestant Epis-
copal Cathedral Of SITS. Peter and Paul. In
Chicago. that no persons will be married
et the cathedral in the future unless they
can present certificates Of health from
reputable physician, was discussed to-day
hv many Of the prominent members OF the
worcester clergy. including the Right Rev.
Tbonls ?, Davies, Bishop OF the Western
Massachusetts diocese Of the Episcopal
Church.
Every priest Of the Poman Catholic
churches in Worcester with the exception
Of one. considers Or. Summers plan worthy
Of serious consideration, and. whether it
proves practical or not, they regard the
move with commendation. That is also the
opinlon Of most of the other pastors Of the
churches Of the different denominations.
Bishop Davies expressed what appears Ia
he he prevailing sentiment in Worcester
toward Or Summers ruling when he said
The requirements of a certificate 10
mental and physical soundness before Celc-
brating a marriage would no doubt con
tribute greatly 10 the health Of the nation
and the good of the race. I doubt. how
ever. whether II would be universally prac-
ticable II such a plan could he adopted it
would seem to me desirable that the re-
eHirement be made by the state before
granting the license, rather than by the
Church.
Gases occur TO me in which the require
ment would bear very hard upon the indi-
vidual I sympathize, OF course. with the
Z I
with the wisdom OF means employed"
The Rev. Kinsley Blodgett, of St Marks
Episcopal Church, pointed out that people
nourished on ideas Of an unfettered person
al liberty were liable TO regard the re-
quirement as a hit at legitimate freedom in
thought and action. with a result easy 10
foresee They would find another more
obEgng minister, this failing, they might
visit q justice of the peace, or conditions
might arise 10 lead them TO follow the die
tates Of their inclinations without the sane
ton Of either church or civil authorities
..EmphaticalIy." he said. 1t is a question
with two sides that should he seriously con-
sdered."
The Rev Henry Hague rector Of St
Matthew'S Episcopal Church. the ode &
clergyman in point Of service in Worcfs-
ter. in substance reached the same con-
clusions as Mr.. Blodgett. and said, in ref
erence 70 the feasibility Of the plan, that
for all its obvious merits, theoretically h.
could see no prospect of a general adop-
ton Of anything so distasteful 10 the peo-
ple affected. and that unless the churches
Incorporated the law in their statutes IN"
benefits must be small
But the plan has stirred up thought
Mr.. Hague said. and that is mighty
good thing. and although every right think
ing man must sympathize with sincere
effort TO improve conditions. it is not posi-
BE that many Of the Episcopal ministers
will follow DR.. Summers move. lie is
working out his own theories in his own
way. and the results will be interesting.
The Rev. Arthur s. Burrows, Of the
South Baptist Church: the Rev Edward
p. Drew. OF the Old South Methodist
Church, and the Rev. DR.. Allyn K. Foster.
Of the First Baptist Church, spoke along
similar lines.