New-York tribune., 1922-04-06
Woman to Have Equal
Rights Under Marriage
Vows, but Loses Pledge
of Worldly Endowment
Promises al Altar
Will Be Identical
Commission Drafts More
= Than $50 Changes in
Common Prayer Book

NcCogh!Iioh 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 p report made pub
lie last night through The Associated
Press
Gaining equal rights with men in
their marriage vows, however, the
women would lose a special privilege
now accorded them, for the proposal
to change the ceremony also provides
for striking out the blidegroom's
pledge, "With all my worldly goods |
thee endow"
The commissions report, published
in the form of 23O-page book and
proposing more than $50 alterations
and the inclusion Of seven entirely new
offices or forms of worship, will be sub
mItted to the triennial general conven-
tion of the church at Portland, Ore,
next September. Under the constitu-
t1on of the church it cannot be adopt
ed until it has been approved by two
general conventions, but members of
the commission hope to see the
changes finally ratified at the 1926
convention.
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 y
AT present the woman promises to
"obey" and "servc."
Tho next change, eliminating the
compulsory giving of a woman in mar
riage, would make it possible for the
clergyman to omit:
"Who giveth this woman to be mar
ried to this MANI" and would provide
for the singing of hymn or anthem
at this point.
Another proposed change would
strike "obey' from the sentences of
espousal.
The report continues:
'Amend the sentence in regard to
the ring by omitting the words and
with all my worldly goods | thee en-
dow "
pledge of the bridegroom read:
"With this ring | thee wed: In the
Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost Amen"
Would Bless Wedding Ring
There are fifteen changes in all in
the proposed amendment to the cere-
mony, including a number of minor
attentions and provisions for alterna-
tive 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
lfe's end; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen"
Besides the revision of the marriage
ceremony, the proposed changes in
clude:
Rearrangement of the contents
making for more convenient use;
permissive shortening of some of the
services; addition of many new
prayers, such as "For State Legis-
iature," "For Memorial Day "For
Social Justice" For Every Man in
His Work." For Our Country" and
"For all Nations"; additional collects,
epistes and gospels for special oc-
casions, including independence Day;
enlargement of the catechism and its
Transformation into catechetlcal
off ce of instructions; form of service
for the burial of a child; prayers of
permissive use in commemoratlon of
the saints and for the departed, and
special form for missionary service.
Revision to Meet Conditions
The revision, said statement issued
by the commission, is designed "to
adapt the Prayer Book to present con
ditions, and make it more helpful in
meeting the religious needs of the
people in the life and worship o. to-
day"
The commission, appointed at the
general convention of 1918, already has
made two reports. one at the conven-
ton 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 ad-
vance 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 con-
sideration."
The commission is under the chair
manship of the Rt. Rev. DR.. Cortlandt
Whitehouse, Bishop of Pittsburgh; the
Rev DIR. John W. Suter. of Boston, is
secretary, and Robert H. Gardiner, Of
Boston, treasurer