The Washington times., 1895-05-18
Offer of THE Times" Eagerly
Accepted by COIOred Couples.
FREE LICENSE AND MINISTER
Rev. Mr.. Norris, welI-Known Col
ored Divine, Performed the Cere-
monies In the Times Building.
Most of the Applicants We're Young
People-IHteressIng Scenes.

JOsepn SlfnnfS ana susie MOORE
Robert Brown and Caroline Corbin.
William Robinson and Sarah Ross.
William Wanser and NettIe DuvalI.
Richard Alexander Fletcher and
Mary Eta Ross.
Samuel Smith and Mary Gassaway
William Grinton and Katie Wood
ward.
Andrew Carter and Fannie Norris.
George Washington and Jennie
Barnes.
Eighteen colored men and women who
had for varying periods been living incor-
rect lives, seized upon the offerof The Times
yesterday and sought relief in the bonds
of matrimony.
Asoffered yesterday The Times furnished
each couple with afree marriage license,
the service OF a minister and a certificate
OF marriage to be framed and placed upon
the parlor wall.
The couples united were mainly intelli-
gent, neat looking young men and women,
and the avidity with which they embraced
the opportunity of stepping from depravity
to morality, argues well for their future.
FEAR MOVED SOME.
The fear Of the police and a cell in the
jail was the lever that moved some of the
eighteen persons to action, but it is only
fair and right to state that the couples
in the main Were intelligent and entered
into the life contract knowingly, willingly
and, in majority, of cases, gladly.
One old colored man, who has an honor
able war record, and had lived unmarried
nineteen years with the woman to whom The
Times tied him, Yesterday afternoon, hit the
nah squarely upon the head when he
said:
IF man thinks enough OF a woman
to live with her and devote himself TO her
comforts, he surely should think enough
OF that woman 10 marry her"
Marriage was epidemic in the vicinity
of The Times building yesterday. Early
in the morning, while the hoarse- voiced
old bull whistle was calling the toilers
to work at 7:3o O'Clock, the first man to
take advantage OF The Times free mar
riage Offer appeared in the business office
He worean ,expectant expression on his
brown face.
GEORGE WASHINGTON THE FIRST.
singulariy enough his name was George
Washington and he told the clerk, who
greeted him, that he had just read of The
Times offer and wanted to marry his best
girl, Jennie Barnes, with whom he had
been living for some time past. He was
extremely grateful when informed that
his case would be attended to later in the
day, aud went on his way rejoicing.
Soon after George WaShingtons de-
parture another and another called during
the day until a list of eighteen men and
women had been reached.
In the meantime, Rev. John William Nor
ris, the pastor OF ST. Paul's African Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, who is now known as
The Times preacher" called and made
the preliminary arrangements for the whole
sale marriages, which he WAS TO solemnize
later in the day. Rev. Mr.. Norris is regu-
uany employed by The Times for this
praiseworthy service in the interest of flu-
manity and Christianity.
He was provided with an improvised
altar on the third floor OF The Times build
ing, in which the ceremonies We're per-
formed. He was also provided with a
sufficient number of handsomely engraved
marriage certificates, one of " hich ready
for framing, was given to each couple after
they had been made one, according TO law
GDd the impressive rites OF the church.
'Rne minister also went TO the District build
irg and provided himself with a full supply OF
official blanks on which to make the proper
returns.
Reporters were then sent scurry ing
into the different alleys, courts, and by
ways TO notify applicants of the arrange
menUs at The Times building.
BEGAN THE MARRIAGES.
Marriage licenses We're procured, and
by O'Clock in the afternoon the nuptial
machinery was running smoothly.
Soon the c1pectant brides and grooms
commenced TO arrive The first couple
to face Rev. j. W. Norris was Joseph
Simms. twenty y-eisht years OF age, and
Susie Moore, aged twenty-one years, both
of No. 1876 RoTer's court northwest This
couple had been living together one and a
half years. They We're neatly attired for
the occasion, and their faces beamed with
expectancy.
The ceremony was impressive, and after
the Lords prayer had been repeated. Rev
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