The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-12
DR.. Mason Replies Caus.
tically to Mr.. Bowie's
Criticism.
WILL NOT SOLVE
DOUBLE STANDARD
Rector of Grace Episcopal Re-
iterates His Skepticism as to
Value of Eugenic Require
ments as Deterrent to I'm
morality and Safeguard
Against Disease.

The end Of the eugenic marriage con-
troversy Is not yet After two exhaus-
tive statements setting forth the views
Of the two camps of local Episcopal
clergymen holding differing views on
the question, the rift between the op-
POSING ministers remains as wide as
ever. The latest contribution TO the
literature OF the controversy is state
ment from Rev. Landon r. Mason d.
-, rector Of Grace Episcopal Church,
, answering a criticism by Rev w Rus
sell Bowie. rector of st Paurs of the
views held by his faction.
DR.. Mason was one of the Episcopal
minister's who declined to sign an
agreement proposed by brother minis
ters or the church in Richmond. to re-
quire the groom 10 produce a physi-
cians certificate attesting his freedom
from diseases of immoral origin. as a
condition of performing the marriage
ceremony. With seven other clergy
men he issued statement setting forth
| the reason for opposing the movement
/. called out an answer by Mr. Bowie
who was one of the siEners To Mr.
ifowie's criticism DIR. Mason now makes
reply
In substance DR. Mason reiteratcs his
belief in the. inenicicncv of the eugcnic
program a deterrent to immortality.
ana It's usclessneSs as a safeguard from
Clsease He makes light OF the argu-
ment advanced by Mr.. Bowie that the
reform strikes blow at the double
standard. The effort TO control people
in a matter so personal and sacred to
them. he holds, will serve only to throw
the church and her ministers In con-
tempt
Or. Mnson's Position.
The statement follows:
We arc sorry to appear to our
brethren of loftier moral ideals and
clearer vision as "maicontents" and
inarplots and hinderers of their plan
for great moral reformation. If we
seem so. we hope II will be put to the
account OF our ignorance and lack OF
intellectual acumcn. and not 10 our
Indifference TO the betterment of pres
ent moral conditions. We do desire
that; but how shall we accomplish it?
Words preaching purity rang hollow
and feeble as long as Church does
nothing There's truth in that! But
what shall She do? Hold up man
here and there, presume him guilty
until he proves his innocence, and sim
ply succeed In sending him elsewhere
TO be married?
But we are told that no one need
be humiliated by submitting to 4 real
eXamna ton, for only general accept
ancc OF ITS provisions is necessary to
carry out the general requirements"-
that is. the requirements set forth in
the resolution of these thirteen clergy
that the doctors would often be called
upon TO certify 10 fact. which they.
and all concerned. were aware was
not known TO he fact His methods
or testing the physical condition OF
the applicants would vary according
TO his general belief about the mans
character or his personal relations TO
him and his family. The best TO be
said about that method OF the church's
asserting her adherence of impurity is
that ii is merely a Quaker gun-doesnt
shoot but only reminds people that
immortality is q bad thing. Thc worst
OF II is that TO most men il will look
like sham, mere show OF righteous
ness and purity that is not really eX-
pected TO accomplish the thing which
II processes to do. We fear such an
appearance is not calculated to elevate
moral standards.
Az to Double Standard.
Again, we are told by its author that
this compact entered upon by our
brother ministers is aimed at the
Continued on Ninth Pagc.)