The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17
PASTOR SCHNEIDER.
A Gernaa ClerGynaa In This city whs
Married 7I0 Couples Last Year.

Married 7Io Coupled. Last Year.
II there be any part or corner Of New York
city which maintains an enduring claim to tho
TILE c. Little Germany " Il is that part Of
Second avenue which 10 between-First street
and st. Marks place. a broad and well ordered
thoroushfare, on eich side of which remain.
6efying moro feebly each year the march OF
progress. the roomy and we'll constructed
houses of tho days when Second avenue was
one Of the fashionabls thoroughfares OF New
York. and the broad. high-stoop houses which
were owned and occupied by the most fash
ionAble citizens were known. further down.
town, as mansions. At the door OF one OF
these houses on Sc 'ond avenue. near Seventh
street. Is q metal plate upon which appear IN
German text the words Pastor Schneider"
Pastor Schneider Francis Joseph. his full
name is-inarried. according to tho vital sta.
tistics OF the Board OF Health for 1895. 7ld
,ourles last year, greatly SURPRISING the REQ
ord OF any other minister. priest. or rabbi In
town. the disparity being due to the fact that
Pastor Schneider makes q speciality OF mar
riages. TIE total number OF marriages.. IN
GLIDING those performed by the civil author
tiles. tho Mayor. and Aldermen. was 20. 5l3 in
1895, according to the Board OF Health
figures There are 500 churches and church
congregations In this city. each having. on the
average. three regularly ordained or Installed
clerEymcn. priests. or rabbis. There are. ap-
proximstely, $500 slergymcn Of all dcnomi-
nations. therefore,, In thi, city. and We, Pastor
Schneider OF lower Second avenue performed
last year nearly 80 per cent. OF the total
number OF marriage ceremonies. or nearly 8
per cent. OF the total number OF religious mar
riAges. He is not the pastor of any church.
but as pastor" Ia understood in German there
Is no improperly In It's use In his case.
Pastor Schneider came TO tho United States
Ho went West. but sbout fifteen years ago
camo 10 New York and established himself at
his ~ present resIisnSs, a, iQ Ds,S Second G. Avenue
10 marriage ceremonies. finding his patrons
among tho Germaus. With his wife he lives
IN frugal fashion on the parlor floor OF the
Second avenue house. One EXPLANATION of
his benohcent activity Is. to he found In tho
In New York is very small compared with
tho total Lutheran population, and Is par
ticularly small when compsred with the
There are twenty-five Lutheran churches in
tie city. and more than half Of them are on
OF tho Lutheran population OF the city Is on
the cast side.
the ~faci:that a very, considerable number Of
Pastor Schneider's Lutheran neighbor, are
not church-going Lnthsrans. For marriage.
clergyman who. like Mr. Schneider, rs unat.
tachod TO any church congregation.
a Catholic or a Jsw is regarded rs bsIonsInv to
the Luthc: IAN Church. This explains what
would otherwise he the nearly incomprchcn-
sible statement that Mr.. Schneider. though en-
gagged chiefly in performing marriage cere-
monies for Lutherans, 10 himself an Eplsco.
pal!an. lie makes no discrimination hls,d
upon s~ectarian differences, among thos,S he
maj rios, some Of them being Luthcrans. some
Baptist, some Methodists. some Hebrews. and
some members of the Greek Church. lie Ia
familiar with the matrimonial customs OF
Germany and with tho laws OF New York 40
far as. they relate to marriages, and II IS his
boast that he strictly complies with the law.
A tho records OF tho Board OF Health show,
no IL certainly dlltgent IN recording the mar.
riage ceremonies which he performs.
Thu Board OF Health has had considerable trou-
bio In strictly enforcing the regulations which
prescribe not only an accurate but n prompt
record OF every marriage. The absence Of
such n record often leads TO serious confusion
", quit proceedings. and In respect Of legacy
contests the absence OF O prOpcr record makes
the DELINQUENT clergyman Liable to crimiunl
prosecution. but the cases against clCryymcn
for technical violations OF "A Bunrd Of Health
rule are not such as would he prosecuted with
much expectation OF su cess in the courts. md
hence II has been found difIigult to enforce
this saluthry provision. In Europe and more
particularly upon the continent Of Europe the
laws relating to marriage ceremonies are strict.
clear. and severe. and the penalties Rrc not
only imposed upon tie delinquent clcrGymen,
but Imposed upon hem In such a way that
unreoordsd marriages are very rae. Tie
great majority of tn oe who seek tho aid Of
Mr.. Schneider are either foreiGn-born persons
or those who live IN tne narts OF town where
for compliance. with. the formsiities which are
required abroad leads them. TO seek y clergy
man whose familiarity with these conditions
u well knoWR-