The New York herald., 1922-10-02
guthrie SAYS WATCH
ONNUPTALSNEEDE
st. Marks Rector Gives
Plan for First Cure of
Divorce Evil.
HE ATTACKS DIR. GRANT
Declares It Is Childish to
Criticize Canon Because
It Is Inconsistent.
'WOMEN ARE NO BETTER
Bishop Manning Also Touches
on Dissolution Of Marriage
in His Sermon.

The Rev. William Norman Guthrie,
rector of st. Mark's-in-the-Bouw
referring in his sermon yesterday
morning to the divorce problem for
the first time in eleven years, attacked
the utterances and the attitude Of the
Rev. Percy Stickney Grant toward the
remarriage of divorced persons and
the sanctity Of the married state.
Bishop William T. Manning in his
sermon also referred to divorce, point
ing out that the recent general con-
vention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church In Portland, Ore, strengthened
the law Of tho church with regard to
the remarriage OF divorced persons.
DIR. Guthrie said he mentioned di-
vorce. not because OF his inclination
to discuss II. tct rather because of the
widespread discussion OF DIR. Grants
stand for less rigid retrictions in the
Epicopai Church. DR.. Guthrie said
at the outset OF his sermon that he
had the highest regard for the rector
of the Church Of the Ascension, par
tlcularly in regard to his stand for the
right of free speech.
1T Is childish" said, DR.. Guthrie, ito
criticize a church canon because 1t is
inconsistent. OF course the canon is ;n-
consistent. It is church law that rep
resents compromise OF opinions. 1t
also is nonsense to say that the attitude
OF the church impugns the laws Of the
clergyman to perform a ceremony and
does not compel him to do so. I might
refuse to marry a couple because the
bride had black eyes and I preferred
brides with blue eyes. The State does
not say I must marry them"
''Sold Services for Fee"
DR.. Guthrie said he did not consider
women better than men: that I'VE have
talked Of the womanly virtues until the
churches are filled with women, but not
men," Because most divorces are sought
by women, he said. it does not follow
that women are always blameless.
'T have no regard said DR.. Guthrie.
"for the woman who would sell herself
for social station or financial indepen-
dence. The fault OF the church is that
ii has not preached against such mar
riages. Too many lose sight OF the fact
that marriage should be a holy thing,
with the object of better children and
the perpetuation of q Christian race.
Therefore. there are many who marry
merely for lark. calling it love, and re-
pent later.
THE church has not been the watch
dog of matrimony, as 1t should have
been. II has sold the services OF It's
ministers for fee. The church should
refuse to marry those who cannot kneel
down at the altar and offer UP their
lives to God"
Summing up. DR.. Guthrie said he op-
posed the attitude of the Episcopal
Church In two particulars:
First, II is infamous to consider mar
riages to be what God hath Joined to-
gether' when they are really the result
of carnal desires and social considera-
tions. Second. disapprove of the until
death do us part section Of the mar
riage service. Holy marriage should be
a uniting Of two spirits and should be for
all time. It is ridiculous to consider
q spiritual union and then limit
Il to the life of the body; II is absurd
to attempt to limit a spiritual relation
ship"