New-York tribune., 1922-10-02
DIR. Guthrie
Hits DIR. Grants
Divorce Views
St. Marks in Bouwerie Rec
tor Replies in Pulpit to
Criticism of Canon That
Called 1t Inconsistent
Denies Conflict With State
Says True Marriage Eternal;
VIII Preach Series of
Sermons on the Subject

The Rev. William Norman Guthrie
rector of st. Mark 's-in-the Bouwerie
replied in a sermon yesterday to the
attack Of the Rev. Percy Stickney
Grant on the Episcopal Church's atti-
tude on the remarriage of divorced
persons. DR.. Grant has severely criti-
cized the church canons which forbid
him to marry Mrs. Philip Lydig, who
has twice obtained divorces.
In his remarks, DR.. Guthrie said that
he considered it childish to criticize q
church law because it may be incon-
sistent.
81 oppose the attitude of tho Church
on marriage in two particulars" he
stated. toward the conclusion Of the
sermon. "In one / believe it Infamous
to consider as what God hath ioined
together such marriages as are really
! the result Of carnal desires and social
considerations"
Says True Marriage Is Eternal
The other item in the Church mar
riage ceremony concerning which DR..
Guthrie expressed dsapproval-this
without qualifcation-was that Of the
until il-death do-us-part.'
:, HOLY marriage" he declared,
should be the uniting of two spirits
for all time. 1t is ridiculous to con-
slider marriage spiritual union and
then limit 1t to the life of the body,
and 1t is equally absurd to attempt to
limit spiritual relationship"
At another point in his observa-
matrimony and it's dissolution led him
to comparison Of the attributes of
man and woman.
women" said he, "are no better
than men. We have talked so much
of the womanly virtues that the
churches now are filled with women,
but not with men. i believe that God
created man and woman-and that it
is just about six Of one and half a
dozen of the other. The women are
just as bad as the men. But perhaps I
might put it sweeter-the men are Just
as good as the women"
In mentioning DR.. Grant, directly,
which he did at the beginning Of his
observations, DR.. Guthrie asserted he
had always held the highest regard
for him; Especially, he said, did he
admire his fellow clergyman for nu-
merous contentious the latter has ad-
vanced, "and particularly his stand for
the sanctity Of free speech" DR.. Grant
achieved great personal triumph in
the reception of his remarks at the re-
cent Portland convention" he declared,
but he believed that it was due to his
modesty that he misunderstood this
fact" Then DR.. Guthrie went on:
Calls Canon Compromise Of Opinion
II consider it childish to criticize
a church canon because it may be in
consistent. Of course, that may be the
case. All laws are inconsistent, and a
canon is a church law, which, like all
laws, represents compromise of
opinions.
at is nonsense to say that the at
titude of the Church concerning mar
riage and divorce 1mpugns the laws of
the state. The state merely licenses a
minister to perform marriages.; it does
not compel him to do SO.
~ might refused to marry a couple
because the bride had black eyes and
/ preferred brides with blue eyes.
Nothing but common sense could pre-
vent me. The state does not say
must marry them"
DR.. Guthrie coupled many of his
utterances with argument urging
greater sanctity Of the marriage state.
At TIE beginning, he announced, he in
tended to deal with the entire question
of divorce in series Of sermons.
81 shall do so not from my own in
clinations." he said, "but because of
the widespread discussion which has
been provoked by DR.. Grant In my
sermon to-day there will be the first
mention of divorce 1 have made during
all the eleven years l have been rector
of this church"
"1here would be no need of dis
cussing divorce" he added, eff all
would adopt the proper attitude toward
holy matrimony.