Evening star., 1943-10-10
Episcopal Convention
Aqain Defers Revision
Of Marriage Laws
BY HAROLD b. ROGERS,

Star Staff Correspondent
CLEVELAND, Oct. 9.-Despite in.
sistent appeals that young people
should be shown the Christian
spirit of Justice and mercy" wher
they get into marital difficulties
through hasty wartime marriages
the 54th tri-ennial convention o1
the Protestant Episcopal Church
tonight formally put off any revision
Of its strict marriage canon until
the next general convention. The
move was a defeate for the liberals
The subject of two days OF
stormy debate in the House of Dep
uties, which voted down any
changes by narrow margin Friday
night, the issue came before the
House of Bishops today. The bish-
ops took up the entire report of the
Joint Commission on Holy Matri-
mony, debated the merits and issues
generally, leaned toward liberaliza-
tion in an informal straw vote, but
finally referred the entire matter
back to the joint commission. A
resolution to this effect, with a rec
commended appropriation of $1,000,
went to the House of Deputies for
concurrence.
An Unofficial Action.
The straw vote of the bishops,
taken while sitting as a committee
of the whole, showed trend toward
liberal action by 81 to 25 But this
vote, it was emphasized by leaders,
did not bind the bishops and could
not be considered official.
The next general convention.
when the Joint Commission will
make its report, will be in San
Francisco in 1947.
The House of Deputies, deep in a
mass of business administration,
failed to finish its work late this
afternoon, and returned for a long
night session before adjournment
over the weekend.
There will be no business sessions
of the convention tomorrow, but q
big public meeting will be held at
Trinity Cathedral when the annual
pastoral letter from the House of
Bishops will be read. The conven-
ton will complete its business Mon
day.
Leaders of the conserva tives were
gratified over the defeat of a liberal
lied canon. The liberal leaders ex-
pressed disappointment, but were
somewhat gratifed by the liberal
trend shown in the straw vote.
Weary of the Struggle.
Bishop Cameron j. Davis Of Buff
falo, N. Y, chairman of the Joint
Commission on Holy Matrimony,
who led the liberal fight in the
House of Bishops, indicated tonight
he was weary" of the 18-year strug-
gle for change in the marriage
rules of the church.
But he pointed to the unofficial
vote in the House of Bishops, and
the increased liberal vote in the
House Of Deputies and commented: !:
This all indicates distinct tend
eny towards what Is known as a
liberal canon-What in reality is
giving authority to the bishops to
deal with each case of remarriage
after divorce on its own merits"
Bishop William T. Manning Of
New York, Bishop Benjamin F. P.
WINS of Milwaukee, Bishop William
F. Lewis of Nevada and Bishop Will
liam L. Essex of Quincy, Ill, led
the opposition to the revision.
Most outspoken in favor of liberali-
zation somewhat along the lines in
dicated by the matrimony commits
sion were Bishop Davis, Bishop
Frank w. Sterrett of Bethlehem
Pa, and Bishop William Scarlet of
Missouri.
Bishop Scarlet Protests.
Protesting to the bishops against
their failure to take a stand on
the matter, Bishop Scarlet asked
for action. He said the commission
report included generally the So
called Denver" principle adopted
in Colorado several years ago. This
provided that after one year a di-
vorced person, whatever the reason
for divorce, could appeal to the
bishop for permission to be remar-
ried. At present, a strict inter-
pretation would allow only one rea-
son, adultery, as giving the innocent
party permission for a second mar
riage in church.
I'VE tried for years to hold to
the rigid principle" said Bishop
Scarlet. "but injustices continued
and many people left the church
feeling the church had failed them.
Another way proposed was
through the avenue of annulment,
but to the average man this does
not represent straight thinking, and
our church does not adopt this
subterfuge. There are situations
which dissolve a marriage as surely
as adultery and your commission
has attempted to solve the problem.
The proposed action places RESPONSE
bility for decision on the bishop.
Bishop Sterrett appealed for jus
tice and mercy" as exemplifying the
spirit of Christ in the church's at
titude toward young people in dis
rupted war marriages.
I'VE all know it is necessary to
uphold the standards of Christian
marriage" he said, but I feel that
canon which gives only one pro-
vision for grounds for divorce-infi-
delity-gives neither justice nol
mercy cold legalism.
Facing the Youngsters.
Lets not forget" he admon-
ished the bishops, that we are 60
ing to face some of these young
sters-not sinners-who were swept
of their feet. They are going to
come to you and me for help. Are
we going to have to say, We love