Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1901 — BISHOPS TAKE ACTION [ARTICLE]

BISHOPS TAKE ACTION

On Divorce That Would Make Remarriage Very Uncommon if Generally Adopted. DRAWS A LINE SHARP AND CLEAR Any Mistake to Last a LifetimeChange of Name of the Church. San Francisco, Oct. 10.—The action of greatest importance taken yesterday by the Episcopal general convention was the adoption by the house of bishops, by a vote of 37 to 21, of canon 3(5, which relates to the solemnization of marriage. All of its provisions had previously been argued except those contained in section 4, which forbade the marriage of persons divorced for any cause not existing before marriage. “For any cause net existing before marriage’’ is understood to refer to such causes as insanity, inability to execute a contract. the existence of a living wife or husband, or like reasons which practically render the marriage null and void. Uue.tion by no Means Settled. This section has been a bone of contention, a strong element in the church holding that the re-marriage of the innocent party to a divorce granted on the ground of infidelity should not be forbidden. The bishops have refused to accept this view of the matter. The question is by no means settled, as the whole su-bjept Is now to come up in the house or deputies, where it is expected to cause a protracted debate. Change ot Name of the Church. Another important feature of the work of the house of bishops yesterday was the appointment of a committee of five to act wiith similar committees of priests and laymen, constituting a joint committee of fifteen, in considering the proposed change in the name of the church. The committee has no power to act. but is to report its findings at the next general convention, to be held in Boston in 1904. Regarding the Marginal Reading*. The house est deputies adopted the report of the joint committee on marginal readings, after agreeing to an amendment eliminating those readings which are original with the committee. The vote on the main proposition as amended was as follows: Clerical— Aye, 52; nay, 6: divided. 1. Lay— Aye. 45: nay. G; divided, 2. The report as amended will now go back to the house of bishops for action on the amendment. The house of deputies will today take up the canon on marriage and divorce. Both houses unanimously selected Boston as the place for holding the next triennial convention. Reception to the Convention. A general reception to the convention was given last night at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art. It was largely attended, and was one of the most brilliant social functions ever held in this city. The headquarters of the women’s auxiliary was thronged all day with people attracted by the fine display of work exhibited by the missions of all la mis. The first sessions of the Girls’ Friendly society wiere held yesterday at St. Luke’s church.