The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-10-10
CATHOLIC BAN ON
MARRIAGE ATTACKED
Memorial to Episcopal Deputies
Urges Keen Opposition
to Recent Ruling.
MAY ASK CONGRESS TO ACT
40 Change in Church Name at
This SessiOn-Hngc Offering
by WOmaA's Auxiliary.

resolution to appoint special COM
mission to investigate marriage and divorce
and the desirablity 81 an amendment TO the
Constitution of the United States that will
put the seal of the funda mental law on these
subjects was introduced yesterday in the
general convention of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church.
This action was proposed on the ground
that the PRONUNCIATION of the me temere"
decree of the Roman Catholic Church makes
it necessary for the Protestant Episcopal
Church to declare itself emphatically in the
interest Of its communicates In effect the
decree of ne temere" declares that mar
riages between Roman Catholics and non-
Roman Catholics are invalid when per
formed by non Roman Catholic clergymen.
4 memorial also was introduced calling
for such an amendment of the church con-
stitution as will permit the establishment Of
a racial missionary district. South Caro-
lima and Georgia deputies urged that joint
commission be named TO draft the amend
ment and their motion prevailed. II was
stated that the purpose OF the special joint
| commission was to bring this matter under
the consideration of men who are familiar
With the racial situation. If successful the
movement Will result in the establishment of
/ separate churches for negroes
Various memorials affecting the questions
of proportionatc representation in the
| House of Deputies change of church name.
changes in the prayer book and dictionary
were introduced There was passed IA
resolution for the appointment of Joint
commission to take action against those
authors and publishers who are responsible
for histories and text books in which the
formation and development Of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church il misrepresented.
Three Amendments Passed.
The main business Of the day was he
passage of three of the four amendments
to the church constitution which were
adopted n, the convention IN Cincinnati
three years oSo and which must bc ratified
by both houses this year before they be-
| come operative. The House Of Deputies
accepted them Yesterday after n spirited
debate. The fourth proposed amendment
was thrown on the table hecaus" Of its
technical defects
From spectators point of view the
most interesting event of the day was the
united Offering servic" of the Woman
| Auxiliary AT the Cathedral There the women
of the church put into great basin of gold
their savings for the last three years
Of the changes in IN" fundamental law
| of the church the most important was that
making the Office of tn" presiding Bishop
elective. Under tn" present constitution
TN" presiding Bishop il chosen on the
ground of seniority. which is computed
from the date OF his conservation The
change makes hin, elective by the House
OF Bishops subject to the confirmation
! of the House of Deputies. and his term is
set at three years. Should the House of
bishops concur the elective process does
not become ehcctiv" except In the case OF
| the death or resignation of the present
presiding Bishop.
The two remaining amendments to tn"
! constitution deal with the extension of
voting privileges to deputies from mis-
| sionary districts lying within the bounds
of the United States. Under present con-
diuons these deputies have no right to
| vot" in the convention. by tn" SECOND
! of these amendments deputies from mis-
sionary districts lying beyond the bound
| aries OF the United States get the right
| OF representation in the convention. but
| the voting privilege liz withheld. The FIRST
| of these amendments provoked dis
| cussion as strenuous as that which pre-
ceded the adoption OF the change in tho
method of selecting the presiding Bishop.
The House of Bishops spent the day re-
| ceiving memorials and resolutions on all
manner OF subjects. chiefly those which
| were also presented to the House of Depu-
| ties The constitutional amendments
| adopted by the House OF Deputies were
made the order of the day for Monday,
II is the general belief among the deputies
that the Bishops will concur IN the amend
ments as they did three years ago az Gin
| cinnati.