Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-03-16

ceremony, and also be present at 1t him.
self When the Clerk had issued the
license, Mr.. Echols who is popular bach
elor of uncertain age, said:
"Governor, wish I could manage mat
tiers as speedily as you in affairs of this
kind.'
"Oh," said the Governor, Laughing. 1T
is not me !; it is this lady WHO is SO persis-
tent You know, turning to Mrs Calvert.
who was also enjoying the funl you have
met me more than half way in this
thing"
The following are the names given the
Clerk by the contracting parties:
William Sprague, residence and place
of birth, Providence, R. l.; son Of Amass
and Frances Sprague; age, 81 years. occu-
patton, manufacturer.
Dora Inez Calvert, place of birth. Coi-
Decticut, age, q years months; residenc~
Staunton; name of parents, Flavius Wets
and Saida TIA Weed.
AND NOW WHAT MINISTER
After getting ont of the Clerks offic
Mr.. Echols remarked. NOV Governor
you asked about q minister. what denOmi
nation would you prefer 7" r.
Gov. Sprague, turning to Mrs. Calvert.
"Well, I'll leave that to you"
Mrs. Calvert expressed preference for
an Episcopal clergyman. saying she wish
ed to be married with ring" and that
was the way in the marriage service Of
that church.
eff I can't get an Episcopal clergyman;
what them" asked Mr.. Echols.
Gov. Sprague to his intended, Whatd do
you say to a Baptist p
Mrs. Calvert, "If We can't get An Epis.
copalian let US take Presbyterian.
CAUTIOUS CLERGYMAN.
That being settled the licensed pair
paired to the rectory of Trinity Church,
Of which Rev. Walter q. Hullihen, the
rector. is the occupant. II have come, y
he said to Mr.. Hullihen, ''for you to mar
ry one of the most prominent men In tho
country-at least one who has been before
the publ more conspicuously than any
man in the country.
swell who is it," asked the clergyman
impatiently.
at is Elk Governor VIM. Sprague of
Rhode lsland.''
my dear sir can't marry him. said
Mr.. Hullihen, "He is divorced man. The
canOns of the church do not permit its
clergy to marry divorced man except
when the divorce is for adultery and th6
party to be married is the innocent party. y
Mr.. Echols suggested that probably the
gentleman now applying was the innocent
party aud at least he ought to have the
benefit of the doubt.
The rector still refused. but said he
would consult judge Shelley. in whose
opinion he had much confidence
At Judge Sheffsy's house to which they
repaired. his opinion was gwen, the Judge
advising Mr.. Hulhhen that il Governor
Sprague could answer certain questions
affirmatively, it would be proper for cler-
gyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church
to marry him.
Arriving at the hotel, Mr.. Hullihen
asked Gov. Sprague for private inter-
view, and that gentleman went out Of the
parlor with him.
Mrs. Calvert asked "Mr. Echols is there
anything else wrong.r and being told no.
said she hoped not, that she wanted to he
married by an Episcopal minister ON &C.
| count of the ring. She said she much pre-
ferred being married in Stanton to going
to Harper's Ferry. where it would look SO
much like runaway match. (The Gov
| ernor had previously said something to
the same effect). "You know" she said,
Governor Sprague has great many enc
mics and he would be apt to be criticised
in very harsh way ia such case, snd
will be, no doubt, In any event" She
said she had known the Governor for q
year and had seen good deal Of him last
summer. He was, she thought, very
intellectual man and he had been Cover
nor of Rhode island at the early age of
twenty mine.
THE QUESTION OF DIVORCE.
At this point the Governor appeared at
the parlor door and beckoned out Mr..
Echols who was In conversation with Mrs.
Calvert. The Governor said, "Mr. Echols,
Mr.. Hullihen has mentioned to me that
under certain conditions he is prohibited
by the rules of his church from marrying
parties. He IS in the line of his duty and
| acting think very properly. I wish to
| state to you the ground on which was
| divorced. applied for divorce from my
| wife on the ground of adultery. She filed
| cross bill charging me with the same
offense. She, after short while withdrew
her charges against me. did not with,
draw mine they remained. and on that
standing of the case the court in New
York granted me divorce, and divided
the custody of the children. What is your
opinion 2''
Mr.. Echols said to the Rector that on
that statement of facts he was clearly Of
the opinion that he could marry Gov.
Sprague without violating the rules Of his
church.
Rev. Mr.. Hullihen said he would much
prefer, if not OBTAINING the Governor too
long. to step around the corner and con-
suit Judge Sheffey. whose opinion In mat
tiers of church law he regarded very high
~. Gov. Sprague readily consented, and
at the request Of both the Governor and
Mr.. Hullihen, Commonw ealth's Attorney
Echols accompanied the latter to the
Judges residence After hearing the case
Judge Shelley said to Mr.. Fl. ''1f Cover
nor Sprague can answer the following
questions affirmatively you are bound to
marry him."
On the return Of the clergyman and Mr..