The New York herald., 1922-09-24
EPISCOPAL DIVORCE
CAN0NS MORE RIGID
New Regulations ForbidS
Members From Marrying
Divorced Persons.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
PORTLAND, Ore, Sept. 23.-With the
closing Of the seventh triennial con-
vention OF the Episcopal Church to-
day came the important pronounce
ment of the church on the divorce
laws.
Instead of relaxing the canons, as
was hoped by many, action was taken
which makes the regulation relating to
marriage and divorce more severe. In
addition to forbidding ministers to
marry persons who have been divorced,
1t forbids members of the church from
contracting marriage with divorced
persons.
In the work Of revision of the prayer
book one noteworthy feature was the
striking out Of the word obey from
the marriage ceremony and another
the omission of the bridegroom VOW
to endow the bride with all his earthly
| goods.
| A prayer for the fruitfulness of mar
riage is Incorporated, which is re-
garded as definite expression of the
church's attitude as opposed TO birth
control.
Whence Frivolities Come.
Blame for the frivolities and follies
of the younger generation is laid at the
door of the older generation by the
pt.hon. 80 tha J-nir,oN.r Cburct IL, tts
pastoral letter from the trenniai CON
vention read this afternoon at the
closing meeting. The same element
places the church in peril of becoming
'institutionaiized. hopelessly stagnated
and losing vitality and spiritual
strength" the letter also holds.
The young people Of to-day are
exactly what we have made them" de-
clares the letter, and in reference to the
church IL continues:
Religion has again and again become
professionalized. having outward form
without inner life.
Personal discipleship too easily loses
the enthusiasm and devotion of it's first
profession and drops down into mere
conventional and respectable adherence
70 system or a creed"
Absence or motive In iire Is declared
to be the danger besetting the present
generation.
Striving to he Natural.
ut is, in truth, this absence of mo-
tive that brings anxious thought to
many who are troubled by the manners
and morals of social life to-day. We
have little sympathy with critics who
adopt a censorious attitude toward
youth. always complaining and gen.
orally condemning. Freedom OF be-
havior and carelessness of speech may
mean, and often do mean, not lack o.
courtesy or consideration. but dislike
of convention. the desire to be natural
and human. They may mean. end some,
times do mean, readiness. Willingness
and determination to level social dis
tinctions and forego social privilege,
gain a larger freedom in social habits
and real democracy of thought and
activity.
What the more thoughtful fear. how
ever, Is that for mos people there IS
no such motive behind the crudity and
even vulgarity OF social life. Is IL
not, rather. merely careless headless,
aimleas and indifferent? A new genera
tion may well cast away outworn con-
ventions, IL only there be high purpose
as well as high spirit in the revolt
Are we. In fact. really setting before
ourselves any fine ambitions? Have we
any worthy object In life?
"Or Ia our life empty and meaningless
and is that the explanation OF its seem
ing flippancy and amazing frivolity?
1--WE, your bishops, cannot ask such
questions without seriously questioning
ourselves. and the men and women of
our own generation. The young people
OF to-oay are exactly what we have
made them.
TOO frequently parents have prac-
tically abdicated their position OF direc-
ton and leadership: certainly they have
by example as we'll as precept, In build
ing up simple and natural religious
home life.
Divorce Lowering Morals.
"The level OF popular moral opinion
has already been terribly lowered
through the menace of divorce. which
encourages selfish and extreme in
dividualism, in dsruptlng the American
home and poisoning the springs OF social
life. II has been lowered also by like
individualsm. which for its own private
satisfaction sets aside law and utterly
disrcgards the possible consequent break
down OF public order.
ANY word OF censure OF to-day's new