Evening star., 1922-04-06
MAY OMIT BRIDES
PROMISE TO OBEY
P. E. Prayer Book Revisers
Also Ban Compulsory Civ
ing in Marriage.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, April 6.-Recognition
of the changed status of women by
striking from the Episcopal marriage
ceremony the promise to obey and
eliminating the compulsory giving in
marriage was proposed by the COM
mission on revision of the Book of
Common Prayer in a report made
public last night.
Gaining equal rights with men in
their marriage VOWS, however, the
women would lose Il special privilege
now accorded them For the pro-
posal to change the ceremony also
provides for striking out the BRIDE
groom's pledge with all my worldly
goods l thee endow."
The commissions report. published
in the form of a 230-page book and
proposing more than $50 alterations
and the inclusion of seven entirely
new offices, or forms of worship, Will
be submitted to the triennial general
convention of the church at Portland,
Ore, next September.
Under the constitution of the
church, it cannot be adopted until it
has been approved by two general
conventions, but members of the COM
mission hope to see the changes finally
ratified at the 1925 convention
Identical Promises.
Six pages of the report are devoted
TO the proposed changes in the mar
riage ceremony, the first hint of the
breadth of the revision appearing in
the following:
Make the promise of the man and
of the woman identical in form.
wilt thou love him, comfort him.
honor, and keep him in sickness and
in health; and forsaking all others.
keep thee only unto him, so long as
ye both shall live?'"
A. present the woman promises TO
"obey" and serve.
The next change, eliminating the
compulsory giving of woman in
marriage, would make it possible for
the clergyman to omit:
who giveth this woman to be mar
ried to this man." and would provide
for the singing of a hymn or anthem
Another proposed change would
strike obey from the sentences OF
espousal-
The report continues:
Amend the sentence in regard 10
the ring by omitting the words and
with all my worldly goods l thee en-
dow"
This change would make the ring
pledge of the bridegroom read:
with this ring I thee wed: In the
name of the Father. and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen
Fifteen Changes in All.
There are fifteen changes in all in
the proposed amendment to the cere-
mony. including g. number of minor
alterations and provisions for alter
native closing prayers. A prayer for
the blessing of the wedding ring also
is proposed, which reads:
BLESS, o Lord. this ring. that she
who wears it may abide in Thy peace,
and continue in Thy favor. unto her
life's end; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen"
Besides the revision of the mar
riage ceremony, the proposed changes
include: Rearrangement of the con-
tents, making for more convenient
use; permissive shortening of some of
the services; addition of many new
prayers. such as ''for state legisla-
ture," for memorial days" for So
cial Justice "for every man in his
work. for our country and "for
all nations: additional collects, epis-
ties and gospel for special occa-
sions, including Independence day:
enlargement of the catechism and it's
office of Instruction; a form Of serv-
Ice for the burial of a. child; prayers
OF permisSive use in commemoration
OF the saints and for the departed,
and a special form for missionary
service.
Religious Needs Of Today.
The revision, said a statement is
Ito adapt the prayer book to present
conditions and make it more helpful
in meeting the religious needs of
the people in the life and worship
of today" \
The commission, appointed at the
general convention of 1913, already
has made two reports, one at the con-
vention in 1916 and one in 1919. In
the latter year a few changes were
adopted. The present final report was
expressly ordered published six
months in advance of the Portland
convention, '.in order that the people
of the church may be fully informed
of the changes proposed and have
ample time for considera tion.''
The convention is under the chair
manship of Rt. Rev. Cortlandt White
head, d. D., Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Rev. John w. Suter, d. D.. of Boston
is secretary. and Robert H. Gardiner
of Boston, treasurer.