Evening star., 1949-10-07
Episcopal Commission
Proposed on Changes
In Marriage Canon
By Cospor Names
Stor Sioff Corrsspondsnf

matters. today will bring to a
close the Seth General Conven-
tion Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.
The convention heard spirited
debate yesterday on the church's
marriage canon and the House
of Deputies took step to liberal
ize 1t.
The deputies recommended that
a commission Of four bishops, four
presbyters and four laymen study
and report on all facts Of the
marriage canons.
Can Make Recommendation.
The deputies empowered the
proposed commission to make rec
concentrations on overhauling the
marriage laws at the next General
Convention in 1852. The resolu-
ton goes to the House of Bishops
The move is intended to
liberalize church laws on remar-
riage Of divorced persons.
Proposing the commission, the
House Of Deputies inadvertently
followed recommendation con-
tanned In q report of a special
committee Of the House of Bishops
on procedure under marriage
legislation. This report suggested
that "in general it believes that.
the less the canons are changed
at this time the better. since the
church's experience with them
has covered too short q time
(since 1946) for definite and final
conclusions as to details of
procedure"
The committee, noting that 40
bishops had reported $50 judg-
ments, favorable and unfavorable,
said the judgments "show a sur
priSing unanimity In conserva-
tiSm.''
Three Minor Changes.~
Three minor changes on the
question have been approved all
of them regarded as tending
toward a conservative view. They
are:
/. A communicate holding a
marriage dispensation from one
bishop and desiring to be re-
married in the jurisdiction of an
other bishop must present the
findings of the dispensing bishop
la the diocese where he wants to
be married.
q. A declaration OF intention"
from both parties must be signed
by both parties before marriage.
Such q written declaration is now
optional.
3. An amendment to canon is
which not only forbids the clergy
to remarry persons without an
ecclesiastical judgment in their
favor. but forbids the cornmuni-
carits To- marry. Liberals In the
House Of Deputies opposed this as
automatic excommunication" for
persons who remarry contrary to
the discipline Of the church while
proponents replied its intent is
mot only to restrain the clergy
but also to govern the laity." They
also claimed such persons may
have recourse to the so-called
mercy canon" which permits
communicates married contrary to
church law to apply for admission
to communion. II
Optional Use Of Intinction.
The optional use Of intinction
in administering Holy Communion
was voted today by the convention.
Where permitted by the local bish-
op, intinction dipping the wafer
in the chalice instead Of drinking
from it, may now be used by a
minister. The approval OF intinc-
ton now regularizes a practice
which now prevails widely without
express authorization.
SUPPORT of intinction was voiced
by the Very Rev. John w. Suter.
Dean Of Washington Cathedral,
who declared: "It can be author
lied without changing the Prayer
Book" An opposite view was
taken by DR.. Don Frank Fem Of
Baltimore, who asserted the ac-
ton ."calls for revision Of the
Prayer Book"
The convention voted yesterday |
to give the House of Bishops
power to elect suffragan bishop
to supervise Episcopal chaplains
In the armed forces. Creation Of
the post. which will not be filled
for some time, was made in recog-
milton Of the need of the church
to have some one oversee its clergy
now with the armed services.
There are 20 Episcopal clergy now
active in the Army, nine in the
Air Force and II in the Navy, and
353 in the reserves.
It was announced here today
by the Department Of Defense
that Maj. Gen. Luther D. Miller,
former Army chief Of chaplains.
will continue as chairman Of the
Armed Forces Chaplain Board un-
til July, 1850. His headquarters
will be in Washington.
The House of Deputies yester-
day approved a resolution requir-
ing clergymen to retire at the age
Of 72. Should the canonical
amendment be approved by the
House of Bishops. it will not be-
come effective until 1857.
British GeneraI's S Testimony