Evening journal., 1913-10-10
QUESTION OF
DIVORCE UP
Memorials Dealing With Sub
ieCt Come Before The P. E.
Convention
LEGISLATION IS SOUGHT
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY

NEW YORK, Oct. 10. Questions Of
marriage and divor,, were brought up
somewhat earlier than was anticipated
Yesterday before the forty fourth gen
cral convention of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church. which was convened on
Wednesday morning az the Cathedral of
st. John the Divine, on Morningsido
Heights
These two subjects. invl,cd with many
problems for the Episcopal and other
churches as we'll were introduced before
the House Of Deputies. meeting in the
new synod hail. Just before the close of
the afternoon session. 'lhey were re.
fcrred without delay TO the proper com
mittee.. which will report on them to
the general convention.
The particular marriage and divorce
problems that arc 10 be thrcshed out by
The convention sprang up out Of flood
of memorial and resolutions that were
"unburdcncdr ON the House of Deputies
from 4 until O'Clock, when Francis A..
Lewis. of the pennsvlVanit Diocese,
chairman of the committee on dispatch
of business, announced that the session
had dispensed with It's regular business
an hour sooner than was expected.
stir was created IN the House Of
Deputies when the Rev Dr. James W.
Ashton, of Olcan. \. ". introduced reso-
buttons, urging that a memorial, pre-
scntcd by the Diocese Of Western New
York. and relating TO the mo tcmere
decree of the Roman Catholic Church, be
referred to special committee of three
clerical and two lay deputies TO report
back 60 the convention.
"Ne Temerer Degree Opposed.
Tho memorial called the attention
] 20 the me temerc' degree promul-
gated by the Church of Rome, In this
country. officially declaring that mar
! riaces between Catholics and non
Catholics we're valid only whom con
tractcd before a parish priest under
the rules laid down by the church.
The memorialists urged that the gem
eral convention should affirm that
The marriage tie should not be dealt
with other than as the Scriptures ana
tho laws OF the country allow.
Tho resolutions presented by pr
Ashton specified that special
commission Of five bishops, live pres
bvtors and five laymen be ap-
pointed 10 consider and report 10 the
noxt General Convention on the whole
subject Ol mNIfft-Ft dHN 'oi'Ni"' "a
the deHirahility of an amendment TO
the Constitution Of the United States
enabling national legislation on mar
rlare and divorce. and on the
grounds of assumed authority of tho
those marriages are valid while are
Church Of Rome TO declare that only
those marriages are valid which IRE
contracted according to the terms OF
/ NE tcmere degree SO far as the opera
ton OF said decree affects members OF
this communion who contract mixed
marriages
Tredericl, G.. Morehouse. OF MIL
waukCc. introduced resolution point
inc out that Canon S9 Section 4. pro
vided that any person married other
wise than as the Word OF God and the
{ decipline OF the church allowed
might he repollcd from the sacra-
ments. while as yet the discipline OF
the Episcopal Church with respect 20
the impedimeuts OF matrimony was no
where officially stated by the church.
For Declaration On Divorce.
Therefore. In the resolution pre-
sented by him a petition was made,
that, the House Of Bishops concur
ring. a Joint commission OF five bish-
ops. five preshyters and five laymen
be appointed to report TO the next
General Convention suitable leeisla-
tion whereby the discipline OF this
church relating to holy matrimony
shall be plainly set forth