The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-06-29
- PEoPLE les MARRIED.
A Unique Society and Their Equally
Unique Annual Fete.
lSan Francisco Chronicle

f--f
Waterloo, Ind.-A man who has viewed
the world and its foibles since 1928 and
who now, in Che winter of his life has
set himself 10 the task of reforming some
OF its social features; who began active
life as a mule driver on a canal tOWpath.
and who in his thirty years OF ministerial
IahOrs has married more than $50 couples
and has formed them into the only mat
is the Rev. William l.. Meese. the "rnar-
rNing parsOn of Dekalb county Last
week at his behest many hundreds Of
people VINO had peen Joined by him Ia
parts OF the state and JOurneyed TO this
for and devotion 20 the aged parson. 10
Teaffirm their BELIEF ia his Oft-stated de-
ciaration that marriage is not a failure
and TO give their moral support TO his or
ganizeu campaign against loose marriage
and divorce laws.
Mr. Meese, Cor al that he is known as a
marrying parson viii not wed a couple
If be Knows either one hes been di-
yorced He viii not marry a girl who
looks TO be mere child, no matter what
the fegal license may declare her age 10
be.
There are few more picturesque char
burn. Ind. Despite his g years he 3 as
agile and quick-witted as he was i'm me
COS. when he was licensed as a Methodist
.exhOrter. His blue eyes are as bright
and expressive and his mind as alert TO
eEeIy tuIn OF s2eei9 a. they We're in
The sturdy frame built up by rude labor
on the toT-path and On the farm is
scarcely bowed BY the weight. Of years.
His beard is snow white and his hair
cleaning.
The Rev. Ny. Meese was long an entht-
siast upon the subject or the sanctftv of
marriage and viewed with adherence the
readiness with which the bonds so lightly
assumed. in many cases could be thrown
of by an appeal % the courts. Fasting
about IN his mind Tor some method OF
spreading his gospel, which ne regards as
one Of the higneSt Importance to the ftl-
tsre Of society, be his upOn the idea. 81
forIning- an association of all the Cflples
ne had joined ia matrinaony and rnaliriq
them missionaries Of the new fdea-the
revision or n9rrla9e lays. VERY many of
those whom ne had married resided in
this and adJcinIng counties and had been
intimate with Mr. A1eese for years 70
invite their assistaHces and acO-pBera ton
was es 81, and fhc enthusiasm with which
they took I'D the work Inspired the par
ture
ia August. 1895. the first session of this
unique Orga nizatiQn was heid at Auburn
five mites from mere. r Is the home of
the paFson a1e ~ 81 ne nao welded hum
dreds OF couples in the parlOr o the Iittle
cottage he had 0ccupio1 so loHg with his
family The newspapers were made the
mediums Tor tnviting an of these ''AIeese
couples who lived a a distance to at
tend the reuuion and il vas q GRAND sue
cess Nearly 400 people crowded ini0
che pretty httie town 40 join in the pro-
muIgared by Rev Mr. Meese. 1t was en-
! Enthusiastically accepted. Everyone signf-
Ien mis- or her willingness to be known
AS member Of the 'Meese Matrimonial
tnat Wiliie marriage IS not a. failure. Ii
viii ultimately geL INTO that class unless
there IS reform i'm the divorce laws Ae
annual reunion Of the association was