The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
THE co1r nrn1cAL MAnRrAaE
London Still Talking of the Union OF the
SocInlIstic American and Hts bride.

THB COIT ETHICAL MARRIAGE
London Still Talking of the Union OF the
SociRlistic American and Hts Bride.
They are still talking in London and print
ing things ia the London papers about tho
marriage of DR.. Stanton Colt. Phi. D., and Mics
Adela Wetzlar. which occurred at Keusingtou
Tow Hall a few days ago. IL was said to be
the first ethical marriage" ever celebrated 10
England or anywhere else. 1t interested the
folk Of London town immensely. and now. SO
1t Is reported. ethical marriages are beina
seriously discussed In London drawing rooms.
The marriage was called an ethical marriage"
because DIR. Colt is a somewhat celebrated or.
ponent of ethical culture and because the cere-
mony was performed by Frederic Harrison,
for some time connected with the London So
ciety for Ethical Culture.
No particulars have yet reached this side Of
the ocean regarding the identity of the bride
except that she is a disciple of ethical culture.
DR.. Colt perhaps is better known in the United
States than he lie In England. His family came
to New England In 1887. and all Of them have
been more or less prominent, especially those
who went into the ministry. Stanton Colt
was prepared for college ut the High School In
Columbus. o., and entered Amherst College
with the class OF 1870. He developed into u stu
dent of philosophy and sociology and. after
graduation, was an Instructor in English lite
nature at Amherst for q time.
The late President Seeley took a great in-
terest In the young instructor and finally per-
suaded him to take a course in philosophy and
political science at q German university. The
young man wanted to enter the Episcopal min
istry, but his friends convinced him that his
view were not orthodox enough. His father
and mother had left the Episcopal Church be.
fore their son was born. Prof. Burgess of CO.
lumbia under whom young Colt had studied
politica! science for a year, added his voice to
President Seeley's in favor of study in Ger.
many. and Colt entered the University of Bers
lin in 1882. In 1886 he took his degree of dooS
tor Of philosophy.
Immediately aftsrward he went to London
to study the social condition of London's poor.
There he remained for a Year and in 1886 re.
turned to this country and was eng aged to doe
liver ten lectures before the Society for Ethis,
cal Culture. OF which DR.. Felix Adler is the
President. In the early summer of 1886 DIR.
Colt went to live among the tenements in New
York. He believed that conditions in the
tenement house districts were far from what
they should he and he believed that If an in
tellig emit man studied those conditions he could
improve them. He rented three rooms on the
second floor of the tenement at lag Forsyth
street, and every SUI day during the waim
weather he took about 100 persons, at his own
expense. to the Arden woods on staten Island.
llc Eldlbtu IL i " poJS dIu olipWCu. -up
by another one for girls. and then. concluded
that there was no reason why the fathers and
a clup. The club for the family was called the
Neighborhood Guild. with quarters at ~ De-
the foundation OF the University settlement.
In the Neighborhood Guild DR.. Colt paid all
the w expenses rs, r Ss as5 bhGgrP no de iin tr9m nan any w one; a..
talished DR.. Colt was called TO London. to sue:
Gee Moaemre s p; conway "; s6 as the b., m III SSan q
DIR. Colt made the society one for the study OF
ethical culture. undertook work among the
turned to the United States and took charge
times in the winter OF lo14 Dr. Colt conceived
the idea of giving the unemployed work by
improvements He began dealing with labor
leaders and arranged a mass meeting IN Mad
iS1 Tbs eq6p ir a mn5bHh sn reuW Was ' pse SsdeW with a
turbulent crowd of Socialists. labor agitators
and what not, among whom were a few sober
minded. serious men OF substance. AS a re-
petitions s. in Pl favor y Of a d demand for the follow
build underground railroads adequate
to the city, needs"
city Of iron and granite"
construct in every Senatorial district na
men and. women. and private baths with all
modern improvements"
TO construct underground water closets
and lavatories at every fourth street through
out the tenemen house districts"
L erect in every senatorial district q pup-
for labor Intelligence bureaus attaehed."
T build as many new schoolhouses as the
child population requires"
ITO tear down the rear tenements through
out the tenement house districts, and to con-
vert the back yards into interior parks"
Shortly after this meeting DR.. Colts social
list views became too pronounced for the pat
turned to England in March, 1894. He has
lived in or near London ever since.
Invitations, were issued IN the name OF the
DrOSppcEyA bride md bridegroom for The
packed. The marriage was. preceded BY the
arrangement Of The usual ,formalities at the
office of the Registrar. The CEREMONY took
tons by Mr.. Harrison. Mr.. Harrison, ac-
cording tn the London Ddiln Mail. told the
meeting something about the status OF wo-
man among the Romans. and set forth a claim
that the Ethical ce' emony does a good deal
more to beautify marriage than the ceremony
OF either the Catholic or the Protestant Church.
Then there was an oxhoria alton to the newly
their household become a centre Of useful ser
vice to the community and to train their chill
droh up In the way they should 60, Part OF
the Church of England service G'Wilt thou
Colt and Miss Wetzlar stood up and the ring was
introduced. Mr.. Harrison admitted having
taFen this part Cf the. ceremony from tho
Church service. hut said that, the Church in the
beginning only Incorporated 1t from. an older
Then the bride and bridegroom
gave promises, In answer to MIR. HARRISON
questions that they would live as most mar
stituted. 1t was quite n solemn business.
something like other NonconfoTmist religious
ceremonies, minus the religious element, At
monium accompaniment. a song which was
in accord with the spirit of the meeting.
sTADLING,S SEARCH FOR ANDREE