The Washington times., 1922-04-07
ASSERTS BRIDE
SHOULDNOTbE
ASKED To OBEY
Western Church Leader Fully
Accords With Proposed
Change in Ritual.
BY PAULINE PAYNE.
Cosmopolitan News Service.

Cosmopolitan News Service.
LOS ANGELES, April 7.-Modern
brides should not be asked to obey
their husbands!
And the 1922 bridegrooms should
not be compelled by the church to
"endow with all their worldly goods
when they slip the wedding ring on
the blushing bride.
Such was the declaration today of
Dean William MacCormack, famous
Episcopalian leader Of the West, in
commenting upon the report Of the
commission on revision of the book
of common prayer wherein II is pro-
posed that the triennial general con-
vention OF the Episcopal church at
Portland, Ore, in September official
ly come to the rescue OF distressed
cupid.
Favors Equal Right.
Speaking personally and not in
any way for the Episcopal church
as a whole, do not believe that a
woman should be asked to obey any
more than a man." said Dean Mac
Cormack.
"As a matter Of fact, in my own
experience in performing marriage
since the obey has been used.
Los Angeles brides-at least those
with whom I have come in contact
have not been 'obeying for a long
time.
Neither is 1t at all necessary for
the bridegroom to endow his bride
with all his worldly goods. AS the
law now takes care of that phase of
matrimony, l can see no reason why
the church service of marriage
should longer incorporate these par
ticular words.
Personally speaking. am highly
in favor Of the Episcopalian church
eliminating all references TO the
brides future obedience to her hus-
band from the marriage ceremony"
According to Dean MacCormack
should these proposals be formally
adopted by the church II would
merely mean official recognition of
changes already more or less ac.
cepted anyway by Episcopalian
| clergymen.
Episcopalians of the city declared
that in the report OF the commits.
sion. made public yesterday in New
York city. they see public recogni.
ton on the part of the country's
churchmen of the changed status
of woman.
The fact that the compulsory
giving in marriage Of the bride in
also to he eliminated, il the commits.
sion on revision has It's way. is also
considered significant.
Gist Of Changes.
Over fifty pages OF the 230-page
report, which suggests some $50 al
terations and the inclusion of seven
entirely new offices of forms of
worships, are devoted TO proposed
changes in the marriage ceremony,
the first hint Of the revision ap-
pearing in the following:
Make the promise of the man and
woman Identical in form:
"'W>ll thou love him, comfort
him. honor and keep him in sick
SIS and in health, and. forsaking
others, keep thee only unto him,
long as we both shall live?'"
VI present the woman promises
obey and serve"
The next change, eliminating the
compulsory giving OF woman in
marriage. makes II possible for the
ing of a hymn or anthem at the
point where they formerly said:
who giveth this woman to be
married to this man"
The report also suggests that the
sentence In regard to the ring
where the bridegroom of old days
said: And with all my worldly
goods, l thee endow," be changed
to the following: with this ring
! thee wed; in the name of the
Father. and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen"
A prayer for the blessing of the
wedding ring Is proposed:
Bless, o Lord. this ring. that she
who wears it may abide In thy
peace and continue in thy favor,
until her life ends; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen"