The evening times., 1895-10-25

/ Complaint has arisen among the minis
ters of Washington against the manner in
! which marriage licenses are issued under
existing laws. 1t is probable that at the
approaching session OF Congress bill will
be introduced looking to a reform. Rev.
Adoios Allen, one of the pa stors OF the First
Presbyterian Church. is especially inter.
ested in the matter.
Now any person can get license unless
he in some way excites suspicion that he is
an improper person to be given permission
| to wed. The chief essential to secure the
paper is the fee of 81.
! As a matter of fact, dozens of licenses
are issued every month where one, and
| sometimes both. the parties do not appear
before the clerk at all. Some friend comes
in with the two names, and places of
residence, repeats them to the clerk. hands
| him dollar bill and goes out equipped to
start two persons on the road to comubial
happiness, or the opposite, with wind
up in the divorce court.
IL is held that the clerk is not authorized
by the law to make close inquiries as to
age and previous condition, and even if he
did he has no power to determine whether.
the statements made TO him are truthful.
In this way Washington has become
refuge for the ruEa way couples from ViI-
ginia and Maryland. The ministers believe
that many marriages have been contracted
here which ought never to have been per-
mitted. and the court records show that
there lave-5een some indirect violations of
the Ia w against bigamy.
MINISTER'S HAVE COMPLAINED.
Attention has been called TO this unsat-
isfa ctory state OF affairs by several minis
ters. A few weeks ago ten couples arrived
here from Virginia in one day. Seven or
them applied to Rev. Thomas c. Addison.
/, of Trinity Church, to perform the cere-
n,ony He lad at the moment an engage-
nent TO meet, but said if they chose TO come
at a later hour he would willingly Off
ciate.
tie took a second look at one of the
couples. however. and noticed that the
young lady was a school girl in short
dresses. She seemed hardly fifteen years
old. He quietly found an opportunity to
speak 10 them privately, and found they
had come away from home TO be married
in opposition 10 the wishes OF the young
lady's parents.
He earnestly counseiled them to give up
their purpose and return home. So far as
he was concerned, he couid not possibly
marry them. Nevertheless they found
minister who was less inquisitive, OF else.
warned by one experience. they more care
fully concealed the brides extreme youth.
They We're safely married, and returned
home happy.
Dr. Allen had similar case recently. The
couple Were from nearby Virginia VIZ
Iage. and stopped at u hotel near the First
Presbyterian Church. When they presented
themselves Dr. Allen at oEce recognized that
though they had the requisite license the
young lady was too young to appreciate the
Importance Of the step she was taking. He
groom admitted thar her parents were op-
posed to the match.
APPEALED TO THE GROOM.
Dr. Allen first urged her that no wedding
ought ever to be a source of sorrow TO
anybody, and set before her mind by vivid
Illustrations thepainit would give her father
and mother to know of her disobedience in
this most vital of their common interests.
When he found this was without effect he
appealed to the man saying that he was
to promise TO protect the woman he would
make his wife. Now was the time to te-
gin to prctec: her and that against her
self. She WIS certainly too young TO un-
der>tand the contract into which they
were :ibout to enter. The answer was they
go back unmarried. DR.. Allen refused to
marry them and they went elsewhere.
1t is always possible to find some one
who Will officiatc. Many ministers feel,
with Justice that " hen the license has been
issued that ought to be sufficient. The
purpose OF having license is to prevent
hasty and improper marriages aud if the
law has been satisfied ii is zone Of the
ministers business to begin a new inquisi-
tion to determine whether the parties are
fit persons for we,Ilock. It is always easy
to say, too, that some one will perform
the ceremony and it is of no Use to refuse.
AS the First Presbyterian and the Metro
poiitan Methodist churches are nearest the
front of the City Hall it is natural that
most runa way couples should first 60 to
one or the other.
SEE MORE OF THE EVIL.
In this way Mr.. Allen and Rev Hugh
Johnson see more Of the evil than do other
ministers. 1t is to be expected that agi-
tat1on for reform should begin with them.
At the next meeting of the Presb yteran
pastors, on the second Monday in Novcm-
Der. Mr. Alien will bring the facts TO their
attention There will. be q full discussion
and probably resolution passed looking
to a chnage in the law.
At a recent meeting of the Methodist
the question was brought up
and considered. motion was passed
Looking To the drafting of a new law. 1t
may he that at the Presbyterian meeting
provision will be made for a joint COM
mittee from several demon ina tions and
n request sent out that all interested CO.
operate.
1t is the desire that the granting &C the |
license be made careful procedure, in
which some iudicious person will make |
strict inquiry as to age, antecedents con- |
sent of parents, etc. In this way the COM |
munity, it is claimed, will be protected |
from alliances which are bound to end in |
disaster, and parents will be saved much |
anxiety about their children.