The Washington times., 1928-10-17
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her of divorces among parishioners.
where both husband and wife were
recognized as regular attendants at
church.
THE answer from the clergymen
of all these churches indicated that
the number OF divorces where both
parties attended church was ex-
eeedingIy small, In fact. IN over 80
per cent Of all their churches, these
clersymen did not remember any
such divorces at all
All Outside Churches
From this. the commission drew
the conclusion that the problem is
confined chiefly to those who are out
side the direct inflence OF the
church"
The next question was in regard
to the extent in which clergymen
Were consulted on marital difficul'
ties. The replies indicates that only
a small percentage Of churchgoers
take their troubles to their clergy,
men.
The third inquiry had to do with
training for marriage
TT would appear that little is
done along this line by the clergy
men OF any Of the connmunions men,
toned" the report said. Many of
them preach on the subject and on
other subjects that deal with char
acter building.
Must Be Personal
Sermons cannot be classed as
moral training. Such training TO
be effective must be given indi-
vidually."
One Of the first responsibilities of
the church, the commission asserted,
is ''to hold UP the ideal of maria &c
presented by Christ himself, viz, the
lifelong union of one man with one
woman.
The great problem. however, ]"
the bishops were told, rs not so
much TO state the Christian ideal of
marriage as to know how to make
this idea effective.
lone of the most common sugges-
tions in this line is to make mar
riage indissoluble as does the
Church of Rome: but it is to be re-
nembered that even Rome allows
the annulment of marriage on many
grounds, whereas our canons make
no definite provision for annulment
or divorce, except on the one
ground of ADULTERY"
While the bishops prepared to
receive the report their ranks were
being flooded with invitations to a
significant conference by the Asso-
citation for the Sanctity of Mar.
rage.
The association. among whose
members are some of the most in
fluentiaI bishops and laymen in the
church, is to meet tonight in this
parish hall at st. Thomas Episco-
pal Church.
The organization stands for re.
vision OF the church rules on di
vorce. 1t urges that the present
canon allowing the remarriage OF
the innocent party to- a divorce
granted on statutory grounds, dur.
ing the lifetime of the guilty party
be abrogated. The effect of such a
change would be 10 rule divorce Alb
solutely out of the Episcopal
Church.
The invitation states that the sole
aim of the organization at this
convention is to obtain restoration
of the marriage law, as taught and
commanded by Our Lord"
This law, the communication con
tinues, was observed in the Epis
copal Church down to 1858.
Tn that fatal year" it is staten
''this church by its general conven
ton. forgetful of its pledge in 179e
of adherence to the essential doc
trine and principles OF the Mother
Church. and of the requirement OF
its own constitution, in a few hours
debate, hastily. ignorantly and ii
legally adopted the proviso of oul
present canon, which allows. under
certain conditions. remarriage after
divorce during the life of the guiltS
party"
The association says it has pre-
pared a canon which provides tina
marriages made under the present
proviso shall not be challenged ant
that adequate provision should b.
made for all cases of doubt or nullity
Relation to Industry
The relation of the church t
industry will be the chief topic y
discussion at a mass meeting i
Memorial Continental Hall tonight
The principal address is to be d.
liyered by William Greene, pres
ident Of the American Federatio
Of Labor.
The House Of Bishops voted YET