The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
TO FINE THE MINISTERS
VINO FAIL TO RETURN MARRIAGE
sLfCENSES
After Period of Two Months From Date
Of Marrtage-The Importance of tho
Messurc-Csscs Cited.
Editor Of The Times:

Editor or Inc Times:
Sir--Thc following bill was introduced
by Mr.. Bryant I'm the House of Delegates
on December N-viz. Failure TO prop
orly return marriage license Party cell
ebrating marriage TO be fined for such
failure Duty OF the Clerk. Duty Of
Auditor OF Public Accounts:
BE It enacted by the General Assembly
OF Virginia:
1st That on the first day OF March of
each year. the clerk of every county
or corporation court shall mail a commu
nication TO every person procuring
marriage license within the year next
proceeding the first day OF January. q,
the said license has not been returned
as provided by section 1z29 Code Of Nlr.
gnia. l~1, notifying said persons of such
failure TO return said license.
ID. When party celebrating marriage
does return il. II he shall have kept 10
I'm his possession more than two months
IT shall be the duty 81 the clerk To pre-.
ent the matter TO the court at once AN.
IT shall promptly summon such party h'
fore II and enter fine OF five dollar
against him. To- be collected AS othei
fines are. two dollars Of such fine TO D.,
retained by the clerk of said court az
his fee.
3D. Tho penalty under this act is mere.
~ cumulative. and no existing laws ait
repealed regarding penalties inflicted or
parties celebrating marriages, for tho
failure 20 make proper returns.
9TH Before issuing the forms Of mar
riage license 10 the clerks of various
! courts. it shall be the duty Of the Aud
itor OF Public Accounts to have printed
at the bottom OF said forms. i'm bold type
brief summary of the laws relating 70
J the penalties for failure of parties cele.
brating marriages. to promptly return
| the marriage license.
9TH. This act shall be I'm force from it'
passage.
We imagine that there will be littl'
opposition to this measure, and that d
will be enacted into a law.
Few people are aware OF the evil tina
this bill Is intended 10 remedy. Ever,
one knows that before he can marry M
must procure a license. and again ina
practically no one except a minister cai
perform the marriage ceremony IN thi
state: few. however. appreciate the grca
Importance Of having the license properll
returnedN Ministers are so highly PEE
spected and so universally thought 20 SO
high example I'm obeying the law, tina
II never occurs 20 the groom 10 enquir'
whether tho preacher has done his dutl
i'm returning the license 10 the clerk
Office Even our most cautious and cap
able business and professional men neN'
think TO enquire about H. II this state
met Is question. ask yourself on any mum
Der Of friends whether they ever though
TO make this vital enquiry. Suppose vol
or your descendants want 10 csiablisl
vour marriage for use In this or anothe
State. or I'm foreign country. and th
minister has failed 10 perform his duty
how can the marriage Doe legally ostah
lished2 Merely procuring license ~
no means. establishes the marriage. Zoe
cause the party procuring II may nav
changed his mind and determined no
to marry. In case the minister D. dea'
then the only resources H. TO fail bac
on the witnesses. If It DE possible I
procure their testimony. the marriag
will be established. but only hiter
great deal of unnecessary expense q
IL all could have been avoided ii the hli'
lister had done his duty.
TWO CASES IN POINT.
Two cases have recently come und'
my observation. which will illustrate ti
harm done by the gross carelessness
those miniters who neglect 10 perior
their plain duty. 4 foreign widow wa
married. here in church. The minifl'
leof the license twcnty-three monin'
In noving ne found among his Old pa
ners. a batch of marriage license. TIT
effect was TO bring down on her tho mos
cruel social and financial punlsninei
Her nelghbors gOssiped about hef AN
claimed that She was not married. ih'
suspicions met with apparent conhth'
lion because the license had not u''
returned. Her foreign relatives near
of the fact and sayagely crlticlzen h'
and made her suffer most severe ~
cuniary loss. ,,.., ma
Again. "A citizen OF foreign birth wa
married here forty years ago ana n'
raised "A large family Recently ne wan
"a "a establish the fact OF ms maiflu-
for use i'm his native country. 10 lo"'
the minister had failed 10 return the 'e
tideate. and that all the witnesses wei
dsaJ consequently. be now occupies
mosr uncomfortable .and empafia'7''
n any one thinks 10 an exceptional 'd'
tbat the license rs not returned 10y III
minister. ie will be greatly surprise" .
,no,,irrine al the clerks office OF MI
tf,,stfrgs Court Of Of the Auditor Of f"'
lic Accounts. Delinquent ministers ID
der the present laws cannot D. faeh'
because the groom never THINKS TO 81
miro il the license has been feluih'
III ,ho clerk of the court has no meal
of knowing who performed tne eei ,,,i.,,
" w 0. SHELTON
Richmond Va, Dec. "A. 80.
rNsTRUCTION ron THE BLfND.