Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-28
REV. DIR. BAKER P. LEE
DEFENDS HIS POSITION
Says If Charges Are Preferred
Against Him He VIII
RetaIiate.

Los Angeles. Calf, Jan. 28-The an
ntiai convention Of The Protestant
Episcopal Diocese Of Los Angeles held
IN the parish house of st Paurs Pro-
Cathedral. having unanimously gone
on record In a desire u discover the
reasons why Rev. Dr- Balter +. Lee
consented 10 officiate al the marriage
Of Alfred 7. DUPONT. divorced man.
and Jessie y. Pail. contrary 70 the
canons Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. Mr. Lee comes out with
statement IN Justification of his position.
Mr.. Lee yesterday asserted that
Bishop Johnson of the Los Angeles
Diocese had sanctioned other E1aT-
riages bearing close resembla nee 70
that OF Mr.. dupont
If the charges are pressed" de-
clared Mr. Lee. y shall prefer similar
charges Ard / should not stop there
shall refer the matter to the court Of
appeals Of the House Of Bishops" The
clergyman said he would stand his
/ ground and that he was glad he was
able 20 unite so splendid a man 20 so
noble a woman. Mr.. DUPONT and his
second Wife" he explained, were hap
tized and confirmed in the Cathedral
/ OF 81. John the Divine IN New York
/ City. and have been members of the
church FOR son7e time
Penalties Tor the alleged v1olation
range from adTaoniriou BY the bishop 20
suspension or deposing from Office.
/ Rev. Mr. Lee formerly was a rector ~
I the Christ Church here. He is still
+ technically the head OF a parish and
/ officiates frequently in a ministerial
3 capacity.
1 The resolution adopted by the dele
/ gates suggested that the bishop appoint
/ a committee OF FIVE 10 investigate the
+ matter and report 70 the bishop.
! The first information OF discOrd was
received in a midnight letter from Bish-
+ op Johnson. 1Tr. Lee said. The Btsh-
+ ops letter said his attention had been
called 10 the dupont marriage and that
/ he had been caused grief and trouble by
/ the circumstances and that Rev. Lee
i would he given an opportunity 20 re-
/ fute the charges before he was pro-
/ ceeded against under the CanonlCal
! laws. The letter also said that i was
regretted that the matter had come &c
! public notice.
/ L Immediately drafted a reply anC
forwarded il by special delivery to tbs
Bishop" said Mr.. Lee. Il reninGsI
him that he had advised me and othel
pastors regarding such marriages anc
that ne had performed weddings unoel
similar circumstances and that haC
made complete investigation.
Then l said that II the charges were
i pressed and / was played on tria! !!
would oe with regret chat : would hsv,
! 70 make charges myself. Is 70 N,
matter coming 70 public notice, L VA.
nox NY part or through my knowledg,
that this controversy appeared in IN,
press.
III they want TO make this an issue
let them do SO. he said. I feel tha
am justified ana it viii be a hight 10 .
finish"
May Not be Decided for Several Week
BY Associated Press 10 Every Evening
Los Angeles. Jan. 2S.-The question
Of whether canon Of the Protesgan
Episcopal Church had been violated II
the marriage Of Alfred I. du Pont, o
Wilmington. Del. and Miss Jessie u
Ball, Of Los Angeles, last saturday, ma,
not be decided for several weeks. Blshol
Joseph II. Johnson. of the diocese q
Los Angeles. said last night.
Rev. Raker z, Lee. who performe
the ceremony, said he was prepares
TO defend his action before an ecclesi
astical tribunal. He declared he hal
made inquiries ana had a sworn state
ment concerning the alleged c!rcUm
stances cf Mr.. du Fonts divorce in ia
light Of which he said he felt justIfe-
In performing the marriage.