Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-18
q Controversies !
|. FACED BY CHURCH
Mass Book Joins Subject of
Divorce Before Sessions
of EpiScopaIianS.

BY the Associated Press.
DENVER, Colo, September 1.-two
controversial subjects were before the
General Convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church today as members Of
the House of Bishops, House of Depu-
ties and Woman's Auxiliary delegates
met In joint session.
The matrimonial canon regarding the
marriage of divorced persons, which has
stirred comment from both liberals and
conservatives, has been Joined by the
American miSSal, mass book, as a SUBJ
ject for debate between the So-called
high and low churchmen.
The American missal has been 1nde-
pendently printed and circulated among
members of the church. Opponents as
sert It would lead the church into
Romanism If generally used. Advocates
deny this and say the misSal Is set
forth as a supplement to, not substi-
tute for, the book of common prayer
Wants Certificate Defined.
The House of Deputies has in COM
mittee q resolution by 0. S. seymour
of Long Island which calls for defi-
milton OF q legal certificate on the book
of common prayer.
Lucian Moore Robinson, custodian OF
the standard book of common prayer,
certifieS each edition of the common
prayer book as conforming to the
standard book as directed by the
church canons. Critics say Robinson
certified those portions which appear
in the missal, but not the entire DOCK.
Seymour's resolution simply calls 1or
a definition of Robinsons certlncate'
but debate Is expected to result In DISCUS
sion regarding the use of the missaI
in certain dioceses and parishes.
Meanwhile, delegates prepared LOT q
vote on proposed changes IN the matrl-
monial canon, with plan adVanceo Dy
Right Rev. Charles FiSke, Bishop OF Cen
tral New York, finding some favor.
Debate Remarriage.
Bishop Fiske advocates the establish
nent of an ecclesiastical court in eacn
diocese and missionary district to act
in all marital cases and TO CONSIDER
questioning Of annulment OF marriage.
His proposal does not permit remarriage
Of divorced persons by q priest OF 1ne
church under any circumstances.
In addition, the House Of Deputies
has received q resolution presented by
Marshall Mott, secretary Of the Diocese
of Western Massachusetts,, asking that
mo legislation be passed to permit the
clergy Of this church to remarry d.
vorced persons under any circum-
stances"
Under existing church law, priest Is
allowed to remarry the innocent party
to q divorce granted on grounds aot
adultery.
A proposed canon to be presented by
the commission on divorce would per-
NIT priests to marry divorced persons
regardless Of grounds on which the de
vorce was granted and would recognize
ecclesiastical courts to pass upon petit
lions of divorced persons to be married
again In the church.
Women Gave S1,030,150.
Women of the church contributed ST.
O3O, 1900 through their triennial united
thank offering.
The total was announced at last
nights meeting of the convention by
Louis B. Franklin, vice president and
treasurer of the National Council.
Contributions came from all corners
Of the world, since the united thank
offering Is so called because it repre-
sents the united giving Of individual
women Of the church, both In the
United States and abroad.