The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-07
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MUST OBEY 3 7
SAY SOME L,
s 5 y * n
Other Richmond Ministers Are
Inclined, However, to Elui1or
Brides Wishes.
WHAT LEADERS E: HAVE TO SAY
The Rev. Drs. Gravatt, Gardner,
Witllcrspoonsa nd Young Talk
OH Interesting Subject

sI
Mayor McClellan's assertion that tho
word N"obny'' in tho marriage ceremony
was 'obsolete.' and ought not to be
used has created commotion in Now
York city, and not little comment In
Richmond. H
Several of the .,adlng ministers OF this
city were seen last night and Invited to
express themselves regarding the use
OF the word, which has been discussed, j.
dokingy or seriously, as much as any
In tho language. 81si a
III An analysts OF what these clerical
gentlemen had to say Is interesting. Ali
OF them :, reluctantly or otherwise, adj
mitted that brides-to-bc had at oheStirne
Tor another asked them not to Use the
4 word One minister, said he always re-
spccted the brides wishes in this matter.
Regardless OF what the prospective groom
might desire. One ministerf declared that
The always used It, and was not at liberty
4 to omit 1t. Another said he did@not use
1t at oil, except as implied, unless OK
pressly requested to do 30. 4 s'
All Must Promise.
Rev. J.5J. Grayatt, rector OF Holy
Trinity. ono OF the handsomest and most
fashionable churches OF the city, de-
\ clnred that all Episcopal clergymen fol-
lowed the service, using t he word obey"
us the ritual employed by them embraced
Z IT.. 55tty y n III +s #
4 81 MI. Gravatt was asked II he wore ever
requested to leave 81 out. He replied
to the question in this wise: 6.
mo matter what tho request was. l!
+ have al ways included it'll Then he added
that no Episcopal mintsters had fright
to omit any part Of tho service OF the
Il church,. XIII s a 5ss II Z,
Way Baptists Do It.
Rev. Or. C. S. Gardner, q pastor OF the
Grace Street Baptist Church. said that
MS the baptist Church has no ritual for
anything, the ministers make rituals unto
themselves Some ministers of the de-
n nomination might require tho bride to
obey" and others might not. Ass for
him, he declared that he always RESPECTED
the wishes OF the lady who was to be the
bride. II she wanted to promise to obey
her husband. he let her have her way.
and ffsshe didn't, he omitted It from the
ceremony. "a
DR. Gardner sold that he had had re-
quests from brdes-to-be both to use 1t
and to exclude It. II
II Or. Zero Withcrspoon. pastor OF the
Grace Street Presbyterian Church tho
chaplain III the CHESTERFIELD. as he Is
known. said that as a rule no did not
nsk tho bride to obey her husband. In
f his denominntl ion each minister more or,
less prepares his own marriage ritual.
and IN his case his language implies
obedience and submission to the iius-
band rather than openly requires It,.
Promise Without Knowing. 81
you make the girls promise to obey
without knowing It. don't you. Doctor7"
was asked. "
THAT is about IT, replied he, laugh.
ingly. Pm
DR.. Witherspoon was inclined to think
much OF the talk about obeying or not
obeying a jest and a joke. He admitted
that he had had requests from brides
,to-be TO omit 1t, and he respected their
wishes.
Dr.. ". ]. Young, pastor OF Centenary,
said the Methodist ritual had the word
''obey" In 1t, and generallyeit was used.
He admitted that Methodist ministers
occasionally had requests for the word
to be omitted, and that some Of them
then did 50; otherwise the ritual was
!, followed, vi Esss III