The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-16

imous in saying that = very large percent
age Of persons who marry never pay any
fee at all. Sometimes these sins Of o,nis-
sion are beyond the reach of the bridegroom.
Too often the handsome sum he has allotted
for that purpose is pocketed by the perfdi-
ous best man who stands up with him. A
wealthy young gent, ,eman, the son of mer-
chant belonging to fashionable congrega-
ton up town, was married by his pastor.
Before the ceremony the groom confded
to the keeping Of the groomsman richly
knit silk purse containing ten shining
gold eagles, to be handed to the clergy
man at the close Of the service. Instead
OF doing this, however, the groomsman
pastor in its stead $5 note. The grieved
say anything at the time, but when, on the
next day, his butcher informed him that the
bill was counterfeit, his patience was ex-
hausted. He enclosed the note to the sup
posed offender, accompanied by few scath-
ing lines. The prompt detection and ex-
posure of the offender, and the replacement
the original gratuity by one equally
handsome, followed as q matter of course.
Some churches arc more popular than 9th
ors. Trinity church, for years after its COM
pletion, was favorite resort of blushing
brides and their grooms. People used to
come from other States to be married at
Trinity. Wedding parties intending to make
the tour of Europe went there because of its
convenience. Its location, its size, and the
impressive memories associated with it, as
one of the Oldest and wealthiest churches in
the country, long made it a favorite wedding
center, and it is still patronized largely for
that purpose. Trinity chapel, in West
Twenty-fifth street, is fashionable place for
weddings, and its services are almost
constantly in requisition. OF the
churches on Murray Hill, St. Thomas,
at Fifty-second street, is considered
the most aristocratic. The we'd
ding fees paid here are reputed to be the
largest i'll amount of any church in the city.
DR.. Howard Crosby's, on Fourth avenue
and Twenty-second street, is another favor
ite church.
One of the assistant ministers of Trinity
church at one time used to average from
two to five marriages day, while popular
rabbi up town has oifciated at nearly 1000
weddings.
A clergyman of this city who was called
upon to marry the son of one of his thrift
lest members, was astonished at receiving no
fee. Six months afterward the heart of the
disappointed pastor was gladdened by the
sight Of bag of the finest Mocha coffee,
which the member-a grocer-sent us SUBJ
stitute. Soon afterward a second son of the
grocer was married, and, after waiting the
same length Of time, two bags of Mocha ap
peared. The legend does not relate whether
the grocer had many sons; if he had, his
oaf1 1~n~v4 1~4~~ ~ A~
pete with him in business.
Ono day couple who called at Trinity
had no ring. The minister told the groom
that if he didn't have one Of gold silver
one would do. But the groom didn't have
oven that, and after scurrying around the
'neighborhood in search of something within
his means, came back with brass one, and
was married with it.
The genial chaplain of one of our crack
city regiments tells the following: 81 was
once called on to marry fine, hearty young
German, and his fraulein, pretty, blue-eyed
little thing, so shy and modest that she
could hardly speak. When I got through
the husband asked me how much it was.
'"Give me- said, 'as much as you love
your wife,
He looked tenderly down into the blush
ing, appealing face that nestled alongside of
him. and then, diving his big, burly fist in
to bis pocket, brought it out running over
with silver and gold. 1t was large fee, but
he assured me that he could afford it, and,
not to hurt his feelings, took it,
A former clergyman of the Trinity church
was importuned by an Irish laborer and his
sweetheart, who wanted to be married. They
were too poor to pay fee they said. but they
would remember him with thankfulness to
the last day of their lives. Ascertatning that
there was no impediment the doctor per-
formed the ceremony, whereupon the thrifty
groom asked "his riverance' for the trihing
loan of half dollar to get nights
lodging!
An east side clergyman had a bride and
groom who were poor and proud. When the
service was over, the bridegroom indignant
ly refused to be married gratis, and insisted
on fishing fifty cents in pennies and FIVE
cent pieces out of his pocket. The groons-
man, not to be outdone in iberality, added
another fifty cents from his own store.
Besides the clergyman's fee, it is usual in
fashionat le churches to give a fee to the
sexton for opening the church. In Trinity
and Trinity Chapel, this is $5, but in some
of the fashionable churches the incidental OK
penses amount to $40 or $50. When Catholics
marry Protestants, a dispensation has to be
procured from the Pope. Authority is given
to the bishop to grant these dispensations as
he sees fit, and fee of SIS, enormously called
a 'dispensation fee" is paid to the clerks of
the chancery office on their furnishing the
required document.
Justices of the peace charge anywhere
from seventy-fve cents to $5. Mayor Hall
used to charge So for performing marriages
in the city hall, the money going to the
clerks and hangers-on to drink the BRIDES
health. Mayor Havemeyer usually pocketed
his fees, and insisted on kissing the bride
in the bargain.