The Irish standard., 1915-06-05
From "America."

Under the presidency of Bishop Jo-
seph F. Berry, the Board of Home
Missions of the Methodist Episcopal
Church publishes in Philadelphia "The
Home Mission and Church Extension
Quarterly Bulletin" The purpose of
the Quarterly" expressed on its first
page, is to win America for Christ"
The Fundamental" Of its work Is the
spirit of neighborliness." Its aims
are to be attained through "a con-
quest by righteousness" In the first
issue of the present year contributor.
discussing the topic, Breaking Down
the Home" thinks himself justified in
making the following remarks:
"Only representatives of that
Church (the Catholic Church) can per-
form the marriage ceremony. Only
that Church can grant divorces. The
"Ne Temere" so declares. All mar
riages other than those performed by
the Church Of Rome are Legitimate.
We need only turn to Mexico, the
South American States and the Philip
pines to Judge what sort Of domestic
situation Romanism produces. Inf
deity and Romanism, where both are
unrestrained, break up the family life.
Sound Christian principles alone are
adequate as the foundation for the
home" (Boldface emphasis inserted:)
Now, in these neighborly and right
eous lines there are several assertions
and insinuations to which the ordinary
Catholic, without doubt, will take i'm
mediate exception. But apart from
these filings" dictated by an over
heated imagination, the passage con-
tains direct reference to a very real
and tangible thing, the me Temere."
Here we have legal document. What
it says or does not say is point of
fact to be determined, not by an ap-
peal to sentiment or to religious big
otry, but by an inspection of the docu-
ment itself and Of the decisions issued
by the tribunals qualified to interpret
it. Hence, passing over the filings
and slurs, an inquiry was directed to
the editor of the "Quarterly," asking
him to cite the text of this decree
dealing with the matter of divorce and
requesting precise authority for the
precise statement that "all marriages
other than those performed by the
Church Of Rome are illegitimate."
After lapse of two weeks the follow
ing remarkably Illuminating answer
was received from secretary Of the
board, Mr.. Freeman D. Bovard. 1t Is
quoted In its entirety:
1.-THE answer to both your queries
may be found in the text of the Ne
Temere' decree. The case was tried in
Canada and carried to England and de.
cided against the NE Temere' decree"
Now, as it will be noted, the GUAR
terly" had stated categorically that
"all marriages other than those per-
formed by the Church of Rome are
Legitimate" had mentioned the me
Temere" with an impressive show of
learning, and had instanced, presum-
ably as horrible examples, Mexico, the
South American States, and the Phil
ippines. When challenged, however,
for direct proof, the secretary shifts
the scene to Canada and England, and
again refers airily to the me Temere."
It may be mentioned in passing that
this decree says precisely nothing on
the power of the Church to grant "di-
vorces.''
Mr.. Bovard's reply gave rise to the
suspicion that he had not even read
the decree which he SO glibly cited as
his authority. A second letter from