Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-21
MARRIAGE MUST STAND.
An Interesting Announcement by the
Cardinal.

S0Ao AAa4s
According to an announcement made by
Cardinal Gibbons yesterday. the famous
Rospfglfosi case has been settled The
marriage between Prince Rospigliosi and
Mrs. Frederick H. Parkhurst, formerly
Marie Jennings Reid of this city, is not
recognized by the Catholic CHURCH. Tho
cardinal has authorized the following
statement: -
In 1887 the late Archbishop Chapelle.
then rector Of st. Matthew's Church.
Washington. D. c.. applied to the cardinal
for a dlspensation in disparitate cultus
tln difference of Worship for the mar
rage OF Miss Marie Jennings Reid and
Me. = :. : -
"a dispensation in disparitate cultus is
the form. required for the marriage of a
that was the dfspensatiop asked for and
sranted in the case insquestion. It Is SO
refoEded In the chancery books at the
cathedral.
-'Col. and Mrs Parkhurst were divorced
and subsequently she and Prince Rospig-
lfosf went through form of marriage. 1t
was this form of marriage they attempt
ed to have validated in Rome on the plea
that the proper dispensation in dispari-
tate cultus had not been granted in the
first instance.
The cardinal was consulted by the
propaganda. and a special messenger,
Monsignor Marchetti. came to Baltimore
and examined the chancery book and
found that the dispensation in disparitate
cultus had been duly granted and record
ed. The case was finally brought before
the pope, who decided that the marriage
with Col. Parkhurst was valid, and, there
FORE the second marriage could not be
recognized. His holiness also declared
that no further appeal should be enter
tanned. Mrs. Parkhurst is said to have
alleged that not the proper but another
dispensation had been asked. The whole
n1 so StS I,ic int ri
books of Baltimore have always been
kept with the greatest care and exact
ness as to every detail"
The marriage of Miss Reid and Col Park
hurst occasioned little comment when 1t
occurred in this city because the young
lady and her family had lived here quietly
and Col. Parkhurst was practically I'M
known Since, however, the latter's ap-
plication for a divorce in 1898, which was
subsequently, granted and with it, the GUS
tody of his children, their domestic affairs
acquired new Importance. Three years
later. while in Rome Mrs. Parkhurst
met the prince who later on followed her
to this country. His family, led by Prince
Clementine. opposed the marriage, but in
spite of all opposition the couple was mar
ried by the Italian civil ceremony at the
groom's splendid palace at Pistoria. near
Florence, August q. 1901. Since the birth
of their child the couple has seemingly ex-
hausted every effort to have their union
blessed by the Catholic Church.
At one time-in June. 1903-the princess
threatened to sue Archbishop Chapelie if
her marriage to Col Parkhurst was not
annulled, claiming he had never received
the proper dispensation TO perform a mar
riage ceremony between herself, Cath
Ole, and Col. Parkhurst, Protestant. She
further contended that If one was pre-
sented as evidence 1t would be a forgery.
This threat only served> to bring the prin-
cess still more prominently before the world
and to intensity the interest, which had
begun to lessen.
The fortune of the prince is said to be at
least 5000, 900.
The princess Is a granddaughter of Sam
uel Chester Reid who commanded the Gen
eral Armstrong during the war of 1912.
She is also a descendant of Lord Reid of
Glasgow, who was high admiral of Scot
land under Bruce. in addition to the Ears
of Chester. On her mothers side she is re-
lated to the prominent Kentucky family
of Rowans and cousin of Francis Scott
Key.