The sun., 1919-10-18
P. E. CHURCH RULES
DIVORCEE MAY WED
Innocent Party Will Be AL
lowed to Remarry, Epis-
copalians Say.

DETROIT, Oct 17.-Through action Of
the leymen of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the 1915 General Convention.
sustained by both clerical and lay dele
gates to-day, the innocent party to a
divorce may be rewedded IN the church.
Amendment of the canons to prevent re-
marriage by an Episcopal priest of a
person who has a divorced husband or
wife living was defeated, despite des-
perate efforts by many of the clergy and
q few OF the laity to secure its adoption.
Both orders registered majority against
the amendment
Demand of several delegates who
favored the amendment that the church
unqualihedly declare against divorce and
remarriass brought a prolonged argu-
ment on the question.
Judge Joseph Packard of Baltimore
conld see no reason why a minister
should not be permitted to rewed the
| innocent party to a divorce. DR.. c. f.
| C. Wrigley of Brooklyn maintained that
the laymen desired to maintain dual
marriage law. DR.. Randolph II. McKim
OF Washington, d. c., held the old
church law to be "the best preservative
we have OF the purity OF the family
| DR.. William T. Manning of New York
declared the amendment necessary "tc
uphold the highest ideals. moral and
spiritual. of marriage" DR.. C. Malcolm
| Douglas OF Short Hills. N. j.. voiced
what appeared to be the general though'
Of the convention. that the divorce evil car
| only be corrected by effort among the
young.
Upon the canon the innocent party tc
a divorce may be remarked in the
church II the Bishop, after examination
| Of court records and with legal advice
consents, although no priest is compelled
to officiate. The amendment defeated
| would make no distinction between
guilty and innocent and would absolutely
| prohibit an Episcopal clergyman officiat'
| ing In the marriage of persons divorced
for any cause.
The commission on revision OF tbs
canon has reported to the convention
| that Il has been unable to reach a deci'
sion on the proposal, introduced In the
| 1915 meeting, asking for a uniform Fed
eral divorce law.
| In their battle to prevent what for
mer Ambassador Page to-day charac'
| terized as continual nibbling away a.
the liturgN that has grown into the
hearts OF Dur people" the older church.
men in tN House OF Deputies have car
ried many OF their points. Yesterday
they prevented the shortening OF the
'sTe Deum." To-day they prevented the
| adoption OF a new prayer for the Presi
dent Of the United States which woulC
leave out the petition for the continu
ance of his health and prosperity" con-
tained in the present prayer. They lost
] their fight to-day, however. 10 prevent
revision of the "Gloria in Excelsis' by
dropping the repetition Of a phrase and
for the retention OF which Thomas Mel
son Page. prayer book In hand, almost
| tearfulIy pleaded. The new prayer fol
the President to-day failed OF adoption
when sthe laity refused by one vote Il
sustain the clerical delegates in theil
approval OF It. a reconsideration als<
| falling to carry.
Women do not want representation II
the legislative bodies of the church, II
the opinion OF the constitutional amend
ment commission. expressed to the con
vention to-day. On recommendation o
the commission, an amendment tina
would make II possible TO elect womei
delegates was defeated. Leaders in tn
church expect the enfranchisement o
| women by the church will be one of tn
big questions to come before the 1872
convention, however.
To promote nearer approach to socia
righteousness" the House of Bishops to
day asked concurrence OF the House o
Delegates In plans to send forth t
every part of the Episcopal world ''socia
prophets" to speak on social servic
topics