Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-07
FORCED TO MARRY.
The Sensation Which Is Agitating
Church Circles in New York.
A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.
The Rev. Mr.. AuId Sets Sail ON the Some.
times stormy Matrimonial Sea. but
He Does 1t Under Protest.
ITO Avoid "A Scandal"

NEW York, Dec. 7-Church circles here
are excited over an occurrence which, for
mystery and suggestions of scandal, has sell
dom been equaled in this city. A day or two
before Thanksgiving, Mrs Emma Helen
Christie visited the rector of the Church of
the Holy Faith, Rev. Victor c. Smith, and
asked him to marry her on the following
Wednesday to Rev. Harry Aud, rector of
st. Mary's Protestant Episcopal church.
She showed him contract dateb March
4, 1887, which set forth that Harry Aud
and Emma Helen Christie solemnly vow and
covenant together in holy matrimony.n 1t
was witnessed by A. j. Thompson, who, Mr..
Smith knew, had been assistant rector of St
Paul's Episcopal church, but had since
moved to Providence. The young woman
claimed that by this contract she was al
ready Mr.. Auld's wife, but she wanted to be
married over again. She said that she and
Mr.. Aud had gone to Mr. Thompson on the
date of the contract, and that he had refused
to marry them because it was Lent, but had
readily witnessed the agreement which she
herself had drawn up on the spot.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Auld had been college
mates together in ST. Stephens OF Ammon-
dale before Mr.. Aud graduated in 1876, and
had been intimate since, but not a word of
any such alleged marriage had Mr.. Smith
heard from his friend In the afternoon of
the same day, however, came letter from
Mr.. Aud himself, asking Mr.. Smith to set
aside Wednesday night ito marry a couple. {"
He did not say who the couple were
On the Saturday preceding this the vestry
of st. Mary's had received their rector's
resignation. He said that his reasons for re-
signing were purely personal and such as he
moi COZ 10 Ms ALL hol Ioo
rector for five years, since the death of his
predecessor, whose assistant he had been.
He was the sole support of his mother, who
lived with him in the rectory. The terms of
the resignation offered no alternative, and
the vestry accepted it. The congregation
was astonished, but no one could conjecture
what were the rector's purely personal rea-
sons
Wednesday evening, Mr.. Aud and two
friends presented themselves at the rector's
house, and were soon followed by Mrs.
Christie, her mother and gentleman
just before the minister began the mar
riage ceremony Mr. Aud made a gesture of
command, and said in an agitated voice,
slowly aud distinctly:
This woman has forced me to resign my
passorate She has ruined my life She has
brought me here, and feel obliged to marry
her, though l do not want to, and will not
recognize her as my wife or live with her. /
am beggar and cannot support her."
There was rustic of excitement Mrs.
Christie's eyes flashed. She thrust her hand
into her pocket and drew forth paper 1t
was tie contract of March 4, 1897
The contract was handed to the witnesses.
and while they looked at it the groom stood
white anil nerveless with his eyes cast down,
and the bride tapped the floor impatiently
with her foot
Mr.. Smith led the couple through all the
ritual except the ceremony of the ring. Mr..
Aud had provided no ring. The groom took
the brides hand, though, at the proper time
Mr.. Smith asked his fellow rector the usual
question:
Harry, wilt thou take this woman to be
thy welded wifegn
II take her for my legal wife, answered
Mr. Aud in a trembling voice, sebut de-
clare | shall not live with herr
When Mr.. Smith pronounced the benedic-
ton an almost scornful expression crossed
the groom's face Instantly the last word of
the ceremony was spoken he wheeled abb
ruptly, and. without word, put his over
coat hastily on and left the room and house.
followed by his two friends
When the news OF the wedding began to
get abroad it created a sensation. Mr.. Auld
was not known to have been paying atten-
tion to any of the young ladies of his congre-
cation. When the name of Mrs. Christie
was mentioned everybody was astonished.
Mr. Aud had never been seen with her in
public and had never been known to visit her
home She had been seen to call at his house.
but she was member of his congregation
and, 1t was supposed, called upon him as
Others did for religious consolation and ad--
vice. Curiosity reached its highest pitch
when the contract of March 4, 1887, and
notice of the wedding appeared in the pa
pers
1t was the first publication Of the contract
Everybody has been asking why that con-
tract was made, and everybody is still ask
ing. But unless threatened legal proceedings
should be instituted it is likely no.one Will
ever be wiser. Mr.. Aud has said TO personal
friends since the wedding that he married the
woman to avoid scandal. She was threaten
Ing him with suit If he did not live up to
his contract. He called upon Rector Smith
three days after the wedding, and said prac-
tically the same thing, but not one word as
TO why the contract had been drawn. Both
parties have declared that no improper act
WAS ethe occasion of it Bishop Potter was
appealed tos long before ths.wedding. and
said that Mr. Auld should marry Mrs.
Christie. Since the wedding Mr. Aud has
received q letter from the bishop. p.commend-
ing him for doing so
A mutual friend says regarding the publ
cation of the contract:
Mrs Aud probably did it for publicity's
sake II she continues to press matters as
she Is now doing there may be Developments,
IN which case yen viii get al the facts you
Sant.
Mr. Aud, By resigning his past0rate, has
lett himself penniless with a mother to sun
port A petition has been III circulation
among the congregation to reinstate him. but
y hns met with small success. It Is sald that
Na Ahld III ~ ftsr maintnnanss