The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-20
The Minister On tha Marriage.

your paper for this article. wish to
say to the many kind readers of the BUL-
LETIN that 1 have never yet refused to
marry couple when called upon to do |
so, Tor the past fourteen years; nor do |
now think that ever will, unless some
objection, Lawful or Just, be offered either |
before or at the time the service Is to De
performed. The most of my cases "lived |
and done welln and are among the first |
families of the country. A few died soon
afterward; and still less number long
since perhaps wish they had died. But
be all that as it may. Inasmuch as l
was officially associated in the marriage
of Mr.. w. d. Bailey and Miss Sallie II,
| Wallace, of Waterford, MISS; and inas-
much as the same was published in the
| BULLETIN last week as ian unlawful
/ case of abduction, and instead of being a
! lawful marri age, appears TO be horrible
crime, etc." therefore I claim it as my
right first as a servant among you, second
as a citizen in common with You and
third as a minister of our Lords gospel
and acting upon the authority of the
church and state and In keeping with
said authority, to give to you the case as
I then understood it, and also as ! now
see it, after witnessing a preliminary in
vestigation of it by the court. Therelwas
Issued marriage license by Mr.. w. w.
Earl ey, County Court Clerk of Hardeman
county, in the state of Tennessee authori-
zing the marriage of VIM. D. Bailey and
Sallie H. Wallace; and said Bailey pre-
scented the same to me at the Acton hotel
at 9:45 am, to be executed the same day
(Dec. I2) at the Bolivar Hotel at 1920
o'clock. At the appointed time | was
there and met him and little girl and
Mrs. Bray i'll the office. The little girl
then left the room and Mrs. Bray asked
If would go back and meet Mrs. Doyle
(who with herself is joint proprietress OF
the hoteD at which juncture SIR. Bailey
stated that he would return in a minute.
Said /, "alright" and then turned to Mrs.
Bray and asked her if she knew what he
was about to do. She SAID no, and told
D her he was going to have a wife soon. He
f | at once reentered the room and took his
= stand before me with this little girl beside
him with her little hand upon mis- arm
He said 1--WE are ready" and l asked him
pointing at the little girl, if that was tbs
second party. He said yes. l AGAR
. asked him if that was the party that tbs
/ license called for. He answered in thu
affirmative. asked how old she was, tt
which they both replied twelve years o
n age" 1 asked how old he was and h
n said twenty-three. Nobody Directing Il
this thIng?'' "Not but one person that
know of and they are not here" This al
% sounded like truth and l accepted it a
J such and acted upon it, and the prOsecu
Is tor could only say of the minister Oficia
# | ting: CT do not know him. ] have n
/? reflection to cast on him. give hin
credit for believing that he was right.
But back to where / left off in my story
Then said /, with Mrs. Bray and lie
> little girl and some o the servants pres
Is ent, "Deing legally authorized and prop
o erly qualified, we are assembled in tn
II | presence Of Almighty God and these wit
= nesses fer the purpose of solemnizlng tn
NJ rights of matrimony between Mr.. WilliaI
~ Bailey and Miss Sallie Wallace. If ther
is therefore any person present with
lawful objection, lei them stand forth an
- now speak or else forever hereafter hol'
pt their peace. (No objection ralsed.)
Is also charge you both as on will have I
q. give an account to Almighty God in tn
~ last great day, that if either of you kno
! of any impediment or just cause forbid
- ding the same, that ye do reveral it; fc
Al be it dnown that all who are thus iOine
together that it is not in keeping with II
will of God, neither is their marriae
valid. (Be 1t known just here to II
as reader that the provision made in ii
I'D charge to the contracting parties and Il
th conditions OF the validity of the marrial
N or otherwise, is the same in substance
-, is incorporated by the Methodist churC
in her discipline as it provides for tn
~ service and any irregularity thst migl
he crow out 'ot it, But to proceed: [
ue each of you covenant with the other
u ever keep sacred the relationship of hu
Of, band and wife according to the law ar
ur the will Of God; and that you will Low
honor. cherish and sustain each other
sickness and health, in adversely Al
~ prosperity so long as ye both shall live
"a response of assent was made by Dol
e' and hands joined) "By the union
ny pIayf,.l rivulets we have great rivers
S. commerce; by she union of lights we ha'
at increased power over darkness, 50 by Il
he proper union of hearts we have increa
;or Of power over the difficulties of life al
an increase of utility and happiness; al
to this end, inasmuch as it has pleas
'e God to call this couple from a sing
AZ to a welded state, I pronounce tn
IRE they are husband and wife in the mar
te, of the Father, Son, and Holy GhOs
for Congratulations followed and departC
The objector now asks why did you
this? First, Mr.. Bailey requested me
a. and he looked like gentleman, one I'll
h would ask nothing but what was rig
INF. Second, the state gave me the legal a
nd thority. Third, the girl appeared
~ / H,,,,,,- <, sr,,s~satfor, of che relatiOnsh