Evening star., 1934-10-21
BISHOPS APPROVE
BIRTH REGULATION
Episcopal Prelates Favor
Freedom for Spread of
Information.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., october
20.-After bitter debate the House OF
Bishops Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church today indorsed freedom for
hospitals, physicians and clinics to
disseminate birth control information.
Meanwhile a move which would re-
suit in creation in fact, but not in
name, of an archbishopric for the
church, met o setback In the House
Of Deputies. composed Of laymen and
clergy.
A resolution to extend to life the
term of office of the presiding bishop.
who now serves six years, was de-
feated after q long discussion.
Compared to Presidency.
Rev. Frank H. Nelson Of Cincinnati
compared the Office of the presiding
bishop to that of President of the
United States, and said the plan would
introduce "monarchial form of gov
ernment" into the church.
The vote on the birth control meas
ure was close, A to 80, with the Right
Rev. Paul Matthews of Trenton,
Bishop of New Jersey, leading the op-
position. At one point, when a motion
to limit debate was proposed, Bishop
Matthews threatened ito leave the
house forever"
The motion was withdrawn and
Bishop Matthews stated his opposi-
tion to the resolution which, in effect,
he said, would indorse birth con-
troll"
THE only persons to benefit from
such a measure would be the manu-
facturers Of contraceptive Devices" he
declared. "Our homes would be
flooded with their literature. II you
have ever been in London, you would
know what I mean when I speak of
drug store windows devoted entirely
to their display.
The New Jersey prelate said he
recognized the necessity for inter
fering with nature where the life or
health OF q mother was at stake.
Offered by Bishop Huston
But when the people of the church
believe their moral leadership has
gone so far astray as to indorse a
plan to corrupt youth and promote
promiscuity, fear they may look for
moral leadership elsewhere"
Bishop Arthur c. Thomson of South
ern Virginia and Bishop Coadjutor
Robert Deane Goodwin OF Virginia
favored the resolution, while Bishop
James E. Freeman of Washington, D.
c. and Bishops George w. Davenport
of Easton, Md, and Edward T. Helm
stein of Maryland opposed it.
The resolution, offered by Right
Rev. S. Arthur Fusion, Bishop of
Olympia, Wash. declares:
I'VE indorse the efforts now being
made to secure for licensed physicians,
hospitals and medical clinics, freedom
to convey such information as is in
accord with the highest principles of
eugenics and more wholesome family
life. wherein parenthood may be
undertaken with due respect for the
health Of mothers and the welfare of
their children"
Bishop Huston said the aim Of the
resolution was to support the efforts
of those who seek to have contracep-
tive information given out scien-
tiflcally and legally. More than a mil
lion abortions are performed in
America every year, he said, result
ing in the death of over $4,000 women.
Tf a1tntae md hNev{+oIr
ted to disseminate birth control in
formation, he declared, many abortions
might be avoided.
Celibate Clergy Hit.
1--WE have had a lot of twaddle in
this matter from celibate clergy who
are about as far removed from the
problems Of married life as the man
in the MOON" Bishop Huston said.
Right Rev. Benjamin Brewster,
Bishop of Maine, was chairman of
the Committee on Social Service which
reported favorably on the measure.
He said he believed the resolution had
been misunderstood and pointed out
that physicians in the privacy of
their offices may speak as freely as
they please, but in hospitals and
clinics they dare not lest they en-
danger the charters of the institu-
tionS with which they are associated"
Lynching was condemned in
resolution adopted by the House of
Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal
Church today. The measure was
proposed by Right Rev. Theodore Du
Bose Bratton, Bishop of Mississippi.
The resolution calls for laws per-
mitting the Federal Government to
cooperate with local authorities to
protect prisoners from lynching and
punish members of lynching parties.