Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17

This law is. however, disresarded in very
many instances, as was disclosed by an ex-
animation OF the records in the health ONCE
today by a Star reporter. 1t was discovered
that during the same period referred to
above but TIA marriage certificates had
been returned to the health Office by the
officiating minister. During that period
from September u, 1893. TO April "a, 1894,
as stated above. ,54S marriage licenses were
issued by the clerk of the court. There is
little. II any, doubt that a marriage was
performed in every instance, yet only ia
certificates were recorded during that time.
Of those ia certificates 10 We're, however
certificates OF marriages which occurred
prior to the 9th of September last.
Hence, but 6Yy certificates were in response
that period. That Is, certificates were re-
turned to the health ONCE in less than one
half the number OF marriages which 1t is
reasonable to assume took place.
Mr.. Moore, who is in charge Of the sta
tistics, stated to The Star reporter that
many years ago minister was prosecuted
for falling to observe the law, but that
since then no other prosecutions have been
had. He explained that the late health
officer. DIR. Townsend, had always felt re-
luctant about prosecuting offending minis
tiers and the present health officer had never
directed q prosecution.
AS the health office received no official
record of marriage licenses issued by the
clerk of the court Mr.. Moore explained that
1t was somewhat difficult for the former
to move in the matter. DIR. Hammctt had
however. given the matter some attention
of late, and would endeavor to do ali he
could do to obtain complete record of all
marriages here. He had found that, as
a rule. the Catholic clergymen failed to
make returns, while those of the Protest
ant faith were more obssrvan, CT the law
He had, therefore. addressed the following
letter to Cardinal Gibbons. and in reply
had been assured that the law would here
after be observed by the Catholic clergy
men.
Appeal to Cardinal Gibbons.
The correspondence is as follows:
Ri. Rev. James Gibbons.
Cardinal Archbishop Of Baltimore:
Dear Sir: In my official capacity as
health officer and registrar of vital statis-
tics. permit me to call your attention to a
matter of much Importance to the people
not only of your church, but also to those
OF the community at large By laws of
Congress it has been enacted that every
person who possesses authority to perform
the marriage ceremony is required to make
a certified return, In proper form. to the
registrar or vital statistics of each mar
riage, giving the names and attending con-
ditions of the parties married. These re-
turns when received by the registrar are
copied in durable records, and, being Sc
rally numbered, are then filed away In
bound volumes for safe keeping and ready
reference. By law, certified transcripts of
these records are received in the courts of
law and probate as conclusive evidence
in the settlement of claims Of heirship and
estate, sometimes involving great values.
Hence these records are not simply useful
for statistical purposes, but are of great,
II not inestimable importance to persons
who are called upon to prove heirship or
blood relationship and legitimacy.
In their present state the records of mar
riage in this department, beginning in
1874, now contain the entries of about TWEEN
thousand These ma rrio
are always performed by licensed ministers
of the various religious denominations and
by ordained priests Of the Catholic Church.
By examination 1t Is found that the mar
riage certificates now received here number
about three-fourths of all for whom licenses
are issued, but none are received from the
clergy of the Catholic Church. who. II is
supposed, confine themselves to the records
of the parish registry only. While these
parish records are only secondary and re-
mote authorities in the law courts and
governmental departments. at the same
time 1t Is found by actual experience that
they are uncertain and deficient and often
difficult, II not impossible, to find when
the name of the priest who performed the
ceremony is not known.
! therefore respectfully call your attention
to the laws imposing the above named
duties upon the priests in the District
of Columbia. and if within the scope of
your authority as cardinal archbishop of
this diocese. would request that they be
instructed to make the returns of mar
riages to the registrar of vital statistics,
as required by law.
Very truly,
(Signed) c. NJ. HAMMETT. M D.,
Health Officer.
The Cardinals Reply.
c. NJ. Hammett, NJ. D., Health Officer
Dear Sir: His eminence has just received
your communication of the Sd instant, call
ing his attention to the fact that his clergy
of the District do not send certificates Of
the marriages which they perform. He has
directed me to comm Inicate with them on