The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
TIPS FOR WEDDING PARTIES.
The Ministers or a Maryland Gretnn Green
Divided On n Question OF Moment to Them.
Irotn the Bnlinnre sun.

CUMBERLAND, Sent. 12.-Quite n stir has
been created by the ADDITION of resolutions by
the Ministerial Association Ui Cumberland
branding as ''dishonorable" the practice OF Ter
tain local clcrgyn,en in feeling colored hack
men for bringing to them young couples to he
married. Tho resolutions, which are signed
by tho Rev. DR.. James 4. Moffatt, pastor OF
the Presbyterian Church; the Rev. DIR. NJ. F.
b. Rice. pastor OF Centre street Methodist
Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Quinton {.
Davis, pastor of the First Baptist Church,
committee, and the Rev. Charles :. Biggs. sec
Rotary, further say that the practice is q pros
titution OF the sacred Office OF the minister for
base gain: that it necessarily leads TO the prac-
tice OF deception and the preparation OF wrong
upon many OF the parties seeking TO be mar
ricd, and tends TO lower the standard OF public
morals in the community: that it is n violation
comfy which should exist between all minis
tiers OF religion, and shames all true righteous
who shall be guilty OF said practice TO he un-
worthy OF membership in the association"
Gretna Green. Young couples desiring to get
married come here from all points Of West Viz
Einia, western pennsylyani", ever AZ far ms
days as many as n dozen couples arrive. Many
OF these are intercepted by colored hackmen.
who. 1t is alleged. invariably take. them to
either one OF the two ministers. sometimes
the groom will ask for n certain minister who
legged collusion with the hackmen. whereupon
the latter will make all sorts of excuses, saying
the minister Is out of town or Ia sick. COurlc5
not knowing the minister for whom they had
asked would be taken to such a \ minister as the
haCknan would see fit and would be married.
the harkman all the time assuring them that
the officiating clergyman was the one they had
asked for.
The coming to Cumberland to get married
serves as the bridal trip with II great many.
The young grooms. therefore, fee quite liner.
ally. 1t Is said that ono minister pays two
colored hackmcn 33It per cent; OF his fees. and
that another pays tho same hackmen 90 per
cent. OF his fces.
One Of the ministers makes no denial what.
ever about feeling the hackmen. He says: II
know 1t il not the proper thing. but I get a
small salary, and when | find ministers better
paid than ] guilty Of the practice I am COIN
PEELED TO resort to II for self preservation. l
will be only too glad to discontinue II all others
will do likewise" One day one of the hack
men took two couples to this minister home,
but no happened to be, away. His wife sent
for another minister, who hns not been In tho
couples. The minister received $40, ono.half
OF which he gave to the clcrgyman's wife who
sent for him. The negro hackman was ig.
nored entirely. He hung about n while and
then departed. Later he returned and de-
manded most insOlently OF the clcrgyman's
wife the rs which the officiating minister had
given her for sending for him. He did not get
the money and vowed vengeance.
The ministers will cndCayOr to enter into an
agreement not to fee hRckncn, and an attempt
will be made to secure n public expression
from every Cumberland Clergyman on the sub
iect.