The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-02-15

caso ana mead or tina. cltyS Vice Com.
mission. Almost a year ago he startled
the whole country by calmly announcing
that in the future no one could be mar
ried In his church who was unable TO
present certificate OF mental and
moral health. signed by reputable
physician. At first he received but scant
encouragement. New York ciergymen.
remember, mostly assumed the attitude
which Is best expressed in the phrase.
Dear me-"
HERE TO EXPLAIN THEORY AND
WORKING OF HIS PLAN.
Bat Dean Sumner persevered in his
applied eugenics. and now he IL In this
city. by special clerical invitation, to
explain the theory of his rema able
plan and the manner OF its working out.
I found him at the Hotel walcott, a sur
prIsingly young looking man. square
shouldered. sQuare-jawed. quiet in
speech and deliberate in movement.
There Is "a suggestion OF reserve even In
his earnestness. which adds to rather
than detracts from It's strength.
And here are the rules according to
which. in Dean Summers opinion. can
didates for matrimony should qualify:
I. Both must have been baptassd.
2. Neither may have . divorced
husband or wife living.
.. Some one Known to the o0c1-
ating clergy must voush for the
identity OF each.
=. They must bring at least two
persons who know them to cot -
witnesses Of the ceremony.
8. Zach must present . esrtlA-
csts properly signsd b. . ssputabls
physician TO the s6sot that he or
she has neither IN 1noursbls nor
communicable disease ana 10 men
tally normal.
9. Arrangsmsnts must be made
at least three days before the day
appointed for the osrsmony, In or
der that the banns may b pub-
ushsd ct three public services 81
the church.
II have always wondered" I said.
when the Dean showed me this list
why the churches that are SO keen
against divorce should make no At
tempt at a proper regulation OF mar
r.age."
CONCLUDED 20 MAKE HIS OWN
REGULATIONS.
Exactly" he nodded. "As q matter
OF fact. there are hundreds OF divorces
due TO the fact that one Of the parties
involved was physically unht at the
time OF the marriage. For long time
/ had been speaking and writing In ia
- L., nj
One day 1t suddenly occurred to me
that myself was marrying people right
along and that needn't marry any
one whom / didn't consider Mt to enter
into the state OF wedlock. In short, ]
re, lized that In my own church. at
least | needn't wait for cavic regula-
tons: l could make my own. The other
members OF my clergy agreed with me.
and We drew UP our rules.
Now more than nifty ministerial asso-
Citations have passed resolutions urging
their members to take up q position SIM
liar to ours. More than a score of the
most prominent medical organisations
and the American Bar Association are
working for legislation along tho lines
We have indicated. Tho social service
coming into line. No Judge In the State
OF Kansas will marry a man or woman
who cannot show a medical certificate.
And five States already are considering
statutes which work toward this end.
As for my own cathedral. the marriages
taking place there have more than
doubled in numbers during the last
year.
The Chicago Clergyman who has
charge OF the most fashionable we'd
dings In the city told me that no mad
been asked many times IL he required
health certificates. lie replied NO. but
| am strongly in favor OF their being
offered And his suggestion was fol-
lowed, in every casa. ClsrSymen VINO
do not feel that they have the right 70
exercise compusion cGn do much by
encouraging the presentation OF a cteln
bill Of health. For when such u suxges-
ton Is made. and thcra Is no response.
the case looks decidedly suspicious"
Dean Sumner paused. and ! glanced
again at the matr .monlal regulations
complied by him.
q gather that you are opposed to
runaway matches" remarked.
no encouragement should Be
given to slopsmsnts," he declared,
vigorously. "Thsy are too often
the precursors OF unhappy unions
that end In the divorce court. They
are undertaken BY very young, iy-
responsible persons, ssA are fss-
susutIy aus - tnyulsss Of Tie hAs-
Woo4 ~ AoU1 tny1Al nnHnaa a