The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-24
Eccentric Bridegrooms.
MATRIM oNIAL STORIES TOLD by CLERGY.
MEH--soME EMBARRASSING
MISTAKES.

There was clergyman who mar
ried couple, and at the breakfast one
of the bridesmaids expressed wish to
see that mystic document, a wedding
license, which she had never beheld in
her lifetime. The request occasioned
fearful discovery. The clergyman
had quite forgotten to ask for license
the bridegroom had left it to his "best
man" to procure it, and this the "best
man" had forgotten to DO. Of course
the marriage was not legal marriage
at all. The wedding party broke up
in dismay, and the ceremony was per-
formed again next day. The poor
clergyman however, never got over
the effects of his blunder.
l have known brides, when the
grooms have failed to make the proper
responses prompt them Immediately
and with the greatest facility. As
for the men they commit all kinds of
blunders and bunglings. l have known
man, at that very nervous and try.
ing moment follow the clergyman
within the communion rail and pre-
pare to take place opposite him. I
have known man when the minister
stretched ont his hand to unite those
of the couple take it vigorously in his
own and give it hearty shake. Some.
times more serious difficulties occur.
Some ladies have had an almost uncon.
querable reluctance TO use the word
"obey;" one or two, If their own state
ments are to accepted, have ingenious
ly constructed the word "nobey' The
word, however, has still to be formally
admitted into the language. There
was one girl, who was being married
by fine old clergyman, who absolute
ly refused to utter the "obey." The
minister suggested that, if she was un-
willing to utter the word aloud she
should whisper it to him; but tho
young lady refused even this kind of
compromise. Further, however, than
this the clergyman refused to accomo.
date her; but when he was forced to
dismiss them all without proceeding
any further, the recalcitrant young
person consented to "obey."
The difficulty, however, is not al
ways made on the side of the lady.
On one occasion the bridegroom wish,
ed to deliver little grafton qualifying
his vow, and describing in what sense
and to what extent he was using the
words of the formula. He was of
course given to understand that moth.
nothing of this kind could be permit
ted.
When the bridegroom has returned
thanks, after the parsons speech, in
these days of feminine oratory, there
is sometimes tendency on the part of
the bride to make a little speech of her
own. 81 call you all to witness" said
a bride in our hearing, "that l have
no intention of obeying" "Ah mad.
am" said Frederick Denison Maurice,
who was present, "you have not yet to
learn the blessedness Of obedience"
The following case was related to
me by bishop of the Church of Eng
land: There was man who had |
officiated as clergyman in a large |
town for about fifteen years. At the
lapse of that time it was accidentally |
discovered that he was an impostor.
A new bishop came, or the man went
into a new diocese; anyhow the re-
quest came that he would pro
duce his letters of orders. Letters of
orders are precious documents; if once
lost they cannot be replaced. The
pseudo clergyman replied, expressing
his great regret that in the course of a
removal the letters had been hope
lessly mislaid, but hoped that the
length of time in which he served in
the diocese would be sufficient vouch-
er The bishop wrote back to say
that he regretted the loss of the letters
of orders, and that it would be quite
sufficient if he gave exact dates, which
would enable him to refer to the do
cesan registry. The imposture then
became known. 1t was a matter of
great anxiety to settle what had best
be done under such circumstances.
Of course number of marriages
had been performed during these fif-
teen years, not one of which was legal.
The first suggestion was that an act
should be passed making these mar.
riages legal. There were objections to
this course. 1t was considered that
an immense deal of pain would be
caused by the publication of the inva-
lidity of the marriages, and that pecul-
lar hardship would be done in the case
Of children where one or both parents
had died in the meantime. On Ger.
tain day there was discussion between
The bishop of the diocese and tho
Home Secretary, the result of which
was communication to the false
,lergymen that if he left England i'm
and forever, proceedings
would not be taken, but that other.
wise he wonld he nros neufad