Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-13
NO WEDDING BELLS
FOR THE DIVORCED
Episcopalian Commission Puts
Ban Upon Those Who Would
Wed After Separation.
REASON FOR THE ACTION

St. Louis, Oct. IA church law
forbidding clergymen to solemnize A
marriage for a person divorced for
any cause arising after the mar
rage. while the divorced partner
lives, was recommended in the report
of the joint commission on legislation
on matters relating to holy matri-
mony, submitted today to the tricn,
NAL convention OF the Protestant
Episcopal church.
The commission recommended
however, that where it is claimed
divorce has been granted for causes
arising before marriage. and satisfac-
tory evidence, including a copy of the
courts decree and record is present
ed, the bishop of the diocese shall
have the power to declare that such
a decree, being in fact a decree of
annulment," is no bar to the mar
riage Of either party.
Definition Of Marriage.
The present canon of the church
permits minister to perform the
ceremony in the case OF the marriage
OF the innocent party to a divorce
granted on statutory grounds, pro-
viding the clergyman has received
the consent Of his bishop.
The report defined marriage, "ac-
cording to Gods design" as "the
lifelong union of one man with one
woman to the exclusion of all others
on either side"
In its report the commission point
ed out that the whole subject Of mar
rage, with its responsibilities and
obligations, should be made matter
for careful instruction by the clergy
much more frequently than is now
common" 1t asserted that "the
teaching OF true marriage is one OF
the best defenses against divorce and
other evils which now afflict and
threaten the nation.
As to Instruction.
In such instruction the distinc-
lion must be made clear between mar
riages which are allowed by the civil
law, representing all that can be I'M
posed upon people Of varying or no
religious beliefs and marriages which
,an be sanctioned and blessed by the
church as comfortable to Gods will
md teaching of Our Lord, Jesus
Christ
"At the same time care must be
AIKEN to insist on the fact that tr,,e
marriage is not a peculiar institu-
ion Of the Christian church. The
eaching OF our Lord recalls men
md women to Gods design. and His
race will enable them to rise up
hereto, but marriage col tracted
without Christian rites must be re-
,arded as sacred and the contracting
'arties led to recognize the dignity
nd obligations of the estate into
which they have entered" "A
Power Of Discretion. II
The commission recommended also
he refusal of the church to bless and
olemnize a marriage need not be fol-
owed by permanent exclusion from
ne sacraments, saying on this point:
Consideration must be had of the
God faith in which a marriage may
ave been entered upon, in ignorance {
the church's law and while not SUBJ
,ct to the church's discipline, and Of
he practical impossibility in many
asses without greater wrong, Of the
reaking up OF family. In some
UGH cases there must be power OF
secretion, very carefully exercises.
} admit or readmit persons to the
acraments"
The findings of the commissions
hich must be ratified by two houses
the convention, bishops and depu-
es, was presented by Joseph B. Che
hire of Raleigh. bishop Of North
arolina, chairman Of the joint COM
LiSSion