Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-05-26
Immediate Enforcement of
Episcopal Council Reso-
luton Not Likely.
EXPLANATION is MADE
Alexandria Clergymen Do Net Think
Time is Ripe For Action-Are Con-
vinced Move is a Wise One.

! No immediate action will be taken
! by the Episcopal clergymen in Alex
andria looking to the enforcement Of
the resolution passed by the Diocesan
! Council of the ProteteSant Episcopal
Church. in Charlottesville Thursday,
setting forth thar it is desirable that
ministers of the diocese of Virginia
shall declare their determination to
perform the marriage ceremony of
the church only when the man to be
married shall obtain from the family
physician of the intended bride GER
tifcate of freedom from communica-
BILE disease of immoral origin.
The announcement of the passage
of the resolution, which is a decided
departure from the conservatism that
has heretofore marked the proceed
ings of the Episcopal! Church in
Virginia and places it foremost
among the dioceses in the United
States in works of social nature,
has created considerable comment
and speculation here where the three
Episcopal Churches number among
their membership many of the veal
thiest and most prominent families
of the community.
The resolution as passed by the
Council is as follows:
at is the sense Of this Council that,
for the sake of the protection of wo-
men, and for the sake Of a higher
appeal to men, it is desirable that
ministers of the diocese, as rapidly
as they can, secure such co-opera-
ton from The physicians of their
communities as shall satisfy them
that their position will be effective,
either by themselves, or in conjunc
ton with ministers of other churches,
shall declare their determination to
perform the marriage service of the
church only when the man to be
married shall secure from the family
physician of his intended bride, or
from some other physician certified
to by the brides physician, a certifi-
cate of freedom Of communicable dis
ease of immoral origin
The resolution is the result Of a
years work by the social service
commission of the diocese, of which
the Rev. Dr.. W. Russell Bowie, of
Richmond, is the chairman.
The Rev. P. Parker Phillips, rec
tor of st. Paul's Church, declared
that he would take no action in the
matter until he had been advised by
either the bishop of the diocese or the
secretary of the Council. He was OF
the opinion that the Council could not
take such an important step by SIM
ple resolution, but should enact d
canon which would have to be intro
duced one year and passed the next.
He thought the action Of the Council
was a decided step in right direction
but fears that too much responsible
ity was placed on the clergy He be-
lieves that a certificate of freedom
from disease should be required by
the clerk of the court before license
| is granted.
The Rev. William J. Morton, rector
of Christ Church, thinks that the
time is not ripe in Alexandria for the
strict enforcement of the resolution.
! He believes that it will require seve-
raj wears of education of the public
before he will be able to obtain the
cooperation of physicians and
others to take stand on the matter
that will be effective. Mr. Morton is
a strong advocate of The position thu
church has taken.
Rev. Edgar Carpenter, rector OF
| Grace Church takes similar position
to that of the other two clergymen
He thinks that the church has don,
aw ise thing in calling attention to ;
matter which should be given tn,
most careful consideration by all in
terested in the progress of the race
He does not think that it is a matter
that can be rigidly enforced at pres
ent.