Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-17
MISS HERON N[DI
The Ceremony Was Orthodox in
Nearly Every Particular
Slight Changes Made.
Minister Announced Instead
OF Pronounced" Them
Man and Vile.
DR.. BerghaIl is Native OF Sweden
..Believes in Socialist
Doctrine.

|
Metuchen N. j., March 17.-Margaret
Evelyn Heron, sister of Professor
George d. Heron, the Christian-So-
cialist, was married here Saturday to
DR.. Henri Werner Berghall. The Off
ciating clergymen was the Rev. j. G.
Mason. pastor of the First Presbyterian
church, who officiated at the wedding of
Mary E. Wilkins to Dr. Freeman.
| Much interest attached to Miss Her
ron's wedding, because it was known
she believed in the teachings of her
brother whose unique marriage to Miss
Carrie Rand last May attracted the at
tention of the entire country. When
DR.. Heron was married the Rev. DR..
| Brown, the Congregational clergyman
who "officiated," acted really the part of
a mute witness to the actual ceremony,
but he delivered a prose poem at the
close on the needlessness of other cere-
mony, and announced that the two were
man and wife.
DR.. Gerghall is a native of Sweden
and was formerly a preacher of the
Lutheran church. Besides being min
lister he is also doctor of medicine.
Because of his leanings toward social
ism the government of Sweden, 1T is
said, concluded he was a dangerous fac
tor to have in Sweden and he had to
depart to Finland. The Russian gov
eminent was even less kindly disposed
towards him as soon as he started to
preach his doctrines in Finland. and he
was on the point of being exiled to ST.
IBERIA, when thru friends he obtained his
passports to this country and was al
lowed to go on his promise that he
would not return. DR.. Berghall has
practiced medicine lately in Manistee,
Mich. The bride is So and her husband
is seven years her senior.
DR.. Mason. the minister who off,
ciated, has known the Herrons for some
time. DIR. Herron's mother and father
are members of his church. DR.. Mason
is believer in the doctrines of Henry
George and while protesting to be en-
tirely orthodox in his Presbyterianism
has been known to have liberal views in
regard to DR.. Herron's type of social
ism.
The wedding was performed at Ii
o'clock in the parlor of the Heron
home. The witnesses arranged them
selves in a little circle in the parlor,
which was decorated with flowers. Then
Mr. Mason, addressing himself to those
gathered about him, said:
I'VE are here to recognize and solem-
nize the union of these two lives. We
know that this union is not dependent
for perpetuity or blessing on any cere-
mony, but only God and the love of
their hearts," Then addressing Dr.
Berghall Mr.. Mason said:
Henri Werner. do you take Margaret
Evelyn to be your lawful welded wife,"
DR.. Berghall answered, YES"
The same question was put to Miss
Heron and she answered with another
Yes"
"Inasmuch,' went on Mr. Mason,
therefore, as these hearts have been
united in reciprocal love and have taken
each other as husband and wife, l
therefore, according to the laws of this
state and in the name of God, announce
them to be husband and wife. and who
them to be husband and wife, and
whom God has Joined together let no
man put asunder."
No ring was used. The minister made
a brief prayer to which there was no
response on the part of those present
and then wound up by saying
II bespeak for these friends the ben
ediction of all true souls and the glad
ness that dwells in the heart forever.
The grace and blessing OF God be with
you now and forever"
The bridal couple left on the o'clock
train last night for Columbus, o., where
DIR. Berghall is to be a physician in a
The Rev. Dr. Mason said that he re-
garded the ceremony as being entirely |
orthodox.
Mrs. Berghall requested me to make
use OF the word announce instead of
pronounce which complied with, al
tho / told her at the time that I could
see no difference in the meaning of the
two words There were vows taken,
to be sure. None was asked, because
they requested of me that / use no more
ceremony than was absolutely neces-
sary They agreed before me to take
each other as man and wife. That was
the essential thing, and l regarded all
else as being unnecessary so long as
they did not want 1T.
1T was not socialist marriage, and
I performed it as an orthodox Presby-
terrain minister"
That there would not have been as
much of ceremony as there was had
t not been for the state law is probable,
from the fact that shortly before her
Miss Heron, in discussing it,
said:
Il believe that marriage is above all
earthly forms. There is something too
infinite about love to be measured by
earthly pledges-vain, idle pledges
which are so aften broken What do
such vows count for if two hearts are
fire with love which knows no express
sion from the lips?"