Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-04

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dressed man asked my services on the
following Tuesday evening, He informed
me that he was employed by Uncle
Sam and getting a fine salary. His
house was as fine and elegantly furnish
ell as that of any millionaire of Rich
1uond. His mansion was in that fashion,
able neighborhood Of the Jefferson Hotel.
"On Tuesday at the appointed time my
hack had not arrived. For fear that
there had been some misunderstanding,
and lest my delay should cause some un-
ca siness to the happy pair, struck out
afoot, wadng through mud and water to
make the appointment. When I reached
the house was met by the prospective
groom. VINO wished to have a private
conference. He begged me to have pa
tience with him and that he would pay
me all; yea, do a nice thing by me. He
said that he had been disappointed; that
he should have received $3.50 that day,
but the check had not rea ched him. Of
course, I gladly! fa'-ored him. But that
was the last have seen or directly
heard of this well-to-do gentleman.
wish to add that this is one among few.
The great majority Of my patrons have
been a noble generous, and good people,
During my stay in Richmond, of more
than thirteen years, I have married on
an average about forty couples year.
They have come from all parts of the
city and surrounding counties and of all
that i have married during my ministry
of twen1y-thrce years do not recall but
two couples that have been divorced. I
have sought to keep myself Informed as
to their whereabouts and conditions.
'You made special inquiry as to those
who had married in early life. These
who were divorced were by no means
the youngest of those I have married.
While do not advocate the marriage of
,11 orEC T Nf1 nf
control that matter. Again, in early mar
riages as a rule love is the supreme law,
while i'll later life great deal of policy
is mixed Up in the contract.
a WORD ABOUT DIVORCE.
'Why should we have divorces except
those provided for in Gods Word? I
have positively refused in every divorced
case, to officiate when the matter came to
my attention, until was convinced that
the Scriptural reason was the foundation
of that divorce, and the party offering
to marry was not blameable. We min
listers can do q great deal in correcting
this evil. Where a man and wife will
not bear and forbear with each other.
! think the law might allow them bill
of separation, but they should not be al
lowed to marry again. l am confident
thac the chastity CT the woman would,
in large majority Of cases, prevent the
man from marrying again during her
lifetime. consider the divorce law Of
our State among the greatest curses of
the age and akin to the curse of the sa-
loon. Jesus said: From the beginning
it was not So For the hardness of your
hearts he (NIoses) wrote you this precept,
but from the beginning Of the creation
God made them. male and female. For
this cause shall a man leave his father
ard mother anG cleave to ;sls wife; and
they twain shall be one flesh; SO then
they are no more twain, but one flesh.
What therefore God hath joined together
let rot man put asunder.
''To try to annul Gods law is to invoke
His wrath and curse. would be delight
ed to see you use your wide and whole
some influence to bring about this re-
lorna ton j. w. TUCKER.
Richmond, Va.