Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-02

the rite of marriage is required to produce proof
of his ordination and of his being in regular
communion, and to give bond in $500. Pro-
vision is made also for the recording Of mar
riages. penalty of from 800 to $500 is i'm
posed for classifying the record. and Of from $50
To 500 for giving false information in relation
to the record.
The price of license in that state Is but one
dollar. the same as in this District. Doubtless
1t Is the failure Of many wardens to obtain the
consent OF parents or guardian that induces them
to come to the District for matrimonial purposes
The wonder is that even more do not come here
for the purpose, for In Virginia, as well as in
other places, obseryant ones state there are
many maidens who are more inclined to matri-
mony at from is to 20 years of age than they are
when they reach maturer years.
GENERALLY. there is disposition In the states
to keep proposed marriages secret till after their
occurrence, but there is a custom which prevails
IN many parts OF Maryland and. to some extent,
in this city, that requires the prospective bride
not to show herself, either in company or at
church. for at least week before the wedding
day BY making trip to the District that re-
quirement is avoided. 1t rs safe to say that some
if not all, the couples who have run away from
| Virginia OF late years to marry in the District
appeared to have weighed the subject WELL and
some. who seemed scarcely out of their teens,
showed that while lacking some in respect to
parental authority, they were of practical turn
of mind.
A PRACTICAL BRIDE.
representative Of THE STAR assisted a
youthful Virginia couple some time ago in their
escapade. When he found the age of the young
lady was but sixteen, and noticed that she wore
short dresses. he was about to repent OF the
friendly part he was taking when the young
lady dlspeied all qualns of conscience by saying
AS soon as it is over We'll 90 home and will
walk right in to the family and say Ma, you
know this was going to happen some time, and
If 1t took place at home you would be expected
to give party and invite our friends and some
would have felt insulted if overlooked, so we
have saved all feeling and expense. and if you
wish to invest what party would have cost.
just help John and me to set up housekeeping.
REV. G. B. RAMSDELL,
OF the North Presbyterian church, says that he
has married only an average of six or eight per
year. and that the fees paid by them range from
50 to S25. He has refused to marry number
OF couples, whom he took to be runaway
couples. for in this matter he keeps close to the
rules OF his church, which requires that the
minister shall make inquiry as to the parties,
and not sOlemniZe the marriage II he believes
that such marriage will have the effect OF dis
turbing the peace OF families.
WHAT A MINISTER'S WIFE SAYS.
Some ministers have made the rule to pay
what they receive for marriage tees to their
wives. Mrs. Hartsock, the wife OF Rev. 8. NJ.
! 1lartsOck, of Hamline NJ. E. church. said to a
STAR reporter that the average number of
marriages performed BY her husband was about
twenty per year. and not over three were from
the states. The average fee paid was not above
| SO, especially from parties who come in car
| riages. Those who walk to the parsonage usu-
| ally have ''F" to payfOr the job, but whenever
! she hears OF a marriage to come off and hears q
hack stop at the door, she knows that 1t is S:i
JOB. Often the couple seem to have started out
with but -, tor tile clerk OF the court receives
81, the hack-driver 81 or So and the minister
the balance. Some time since party came and
engaged Mr. Hartsock to marry them saving he
expected the bride that night After waiting
three days they finally appeared and were mar
RED, and he said nothing about the fee.
REV. E. D. HUNTLEY.
Of the Metropolitan N. E. church, states that
since April last he has married twenty-tw
couples. three-fOurths of them, owing to his To-
cation. which is convenient to the courthouse.
being couples from outside of the District, AS
q rule the outsiders pay but small fees not ay-
eraging over p. Some of them pay but fifty
cents. The city couples usually pay s. or over
Most OF the outside couples who have come to
him are AeXandrians. He thinks that while
some Nirginians may come here to save ex-
pense. there is also reason to believe that the
strict laws of Virginia. and desire to say that
they were married at the capital has something
to do with it.
REV. THOs. G. ADDISON,
rector of Trinity p. E. church, says the number
of marriages soiemnized by him annually is
about 30. including a dozen or more Of couples
from Virginia and Maryland. While some OF
the latter are doubtless runaways, he does not
think it fair to class ali from those states as
SUCH nor is 1t fair to say that the high license
in Maryland or the strict law of Virginia lead
them to marry in the District. To combine the
matrimonial business with pleasure seems the
motive Of many. In more than one instance he
had. he said, found couples coming here to save
the trouble and preparation for fashionable
wedding at home. They could get married
quietly here, and visit the public buildings.
Not long ago. after he had solemnized mar
| rage. the handsome Virginia bride said in an
swer to an inquiry, that she had never before
been on railroad train: that they had talked the
subject over and had come to the conclusion
that quiet marriage here. with an opportunity
to visit the capital, would be cheaper than a
wedding at home, and she was sure that it was
quite as pleasant.
The position Of the minister was often times
embarrassing, and it was difficult for him to de-
eide whether to proceed with q ceremony A
few years ago he had been engaged to cali at
the United States hotel at six o'clock in the
morning. and he promised to be there. Promptly
on time he was in the parlor, and there was in
tr0duced to as pretty young miss as he had
ever seen. and also her intended. They were from
Richmond. Suspecting that they were runaways
! he asked if such was not the case, and he re-
celved a prompt answer 'Yes sir The cir
cumstances OF the case were then explained to
him, and be realized the position he was placed
| in After moments reflection, he said to the
| bride. Say to your father when you return to
| him that | an observing the golden rule, DO
unto others you would have them do unto
| you, for If a daughter OF mine went away to
Richmond with two young men for mstrimo-
| NAL purpose. | would In my church thank the
clergyman who would marry them The knot
was then tied, and the party left.
| On the subject OF fees, Mr.. Addison said that
| the better class Of those from a distance paid
usually a fee Of IS, but others 80 to SO each
Most OF the marriages in his church pay $40 and
more.
REV. DR. s. F. RYAN,
Of the Church Of the Immaculate Conception
states that during the past year there were but
IL marriages sOemnized in his parish, and these
! were Of his own congregation. The rules Of the
Catholic church prohibit the priest from marry
Ing parties not belonging to his parish unless
the consent Of the priest in whose parish the
! party resides ia given, and therefore runaway
couples do not find their way to his or other
churches Of that faith. As rule priests will
not marry knowingly parties under age, twenty.
| one and eighteen. The usual fee paid by the
groOms Is IS or upwards, but there is no fee
| exacted, as 1t Is considered free Offering Dr.
Ryan, when his attention was called to the fac:
that but few of the Catholic clergy made
return after marrying parties to the clerk of the
court said that 1t was not on account Of any
objection to doing 30, but probably was due tS
carelessness. and to the idea, obtained from
having paper from the health ONCE to FILL thai
return to the clerks office was unnecessary
He suggested that 1t would be q convenience /,
q certificate To the DNrf0rmaneo NJ tho uuo rr,o -.