Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-21
STATE HOUSE.
New Marriage Law Has
C|ergymen Guessing.
Fee Is Required Of Resident,
Not Citizen CIergymen.
Chairman Carleton Looking After
Game Interest Of Kittery.
e1A1E HOUSE CALENDAR.
Max, Meeting Of Governor and coun'
I'll Tuesday, Dec. 81, at 10 A. M.

A great deal Oh cohluaioH has poei
"a among the clergymen of the State
,a.i,.e 70 the provisions of Chapter "
- puhlic Laws of 1907, entitled an
=. IN authorize clergymen to solemnize
-aarr,ap4s. and which took effect March
a and many letters have been received
., tho Office of the secretary of State
.ron cl4rgymen all over Maine asking if
ia, will be required to file certificate
"a nay TO the secretary the sum of -,
raonired by the law before they will
u authorized to solemnize marriages in
the State. when they have commission
,,rorted them by the Governor to per-
form such ofhces
Tho text of the law which has caused
,bis feeling of uncertainty is as follows:
section !. Any clergyman residing in
this State and engaged in the service OF
the religious body to which he belongs,
may solemniZe marriages, such faces be-
ing first vOuched IOr by certificate signed
nv the bishop, the presiding cider or tht.
clark Of such religious body, duly filed
in the office of the secretary of State.
fee of two dollars shall be paid 10 the
secretary Of State upon the filing Of such
certificate, WHO Slldli lutitupoH lSSut ~
such clergyman a certificate under the
seal Of the State, to the effect that he
is authorized to sOlemniZe marriages. and
such certificate or a certified copy there
~ shall be received as evidence In all
courts Of his authority so to DO. and "a
copy OF the record Of any marriage
solemnized by such clergymen. duly
made and kept attested or sworn to by
the clerk Of the town in which the mar
tiagr intention was recorded or in which
the marriage was solemnized shall be-
received In all courts as evidence of the
fact Of marriage.
Section >. This act shall take effect
when approved
approved March q. 19G7)
From the wording of the above it would
appear that the law provided that every
clergyman in Maine, whether he holds
commission from the Governor or not.
would be required to file the certificate
and pay the s. fee at the office of the
secretary of State before he would be
authorized TO solemniZe marriages, and
J that is what has caused the overflow of
Inquiries at the office Of tn" secretary
from clergymen who already hold COM
missions But it is claimed that the in
tent Of the law is not to require the filing
of a certificate by cIergymen who are
citizens Of Maine ana who held commits
sions from the Governor prior to the
enactment Of Chapter 49, but applies to
cergymen who are residents Of Maine
but not citizens.
II should also be understood that the
old marriage law, which is Chapter IL
Of the Revised Statutes of 1903. is still
effective, having never been repealed,
and that therefore the State has two
marriage laws. Section IL of the above
law, relating to the solemnizatiOn of
marriages. reads as follows:
Sec. IL. Every justice of the peace
residing in the State, every ordained min
ister Of the gospel and every person
licensed to preach by an association Of
minister's religious seminary or ecclesi-
astlcal body. duly appointed and com
missioned for that purpose by the Gov
trnor. may solemniZe marriages within
me limits Of his appointment The Gov
trn0r, with the advice and consent OF
me Council, may appoint women, other
wise eligible under the constitution. ia
SoIemnize marriages.
In explanation OF the meaning of Chap
YER ", L. l.. 1897, ii may be said that il
is held that in accordance with the pro
VISIONS of K. s., Chap. 81, Sec. II. a com
mission. authorizing the holder tC
Solemnize marriages within the limits
~ MS appointment. may be issued &c
j every ordained minister of the gospel
person licensed to preach by an aSSO-
Grafton of ministers, religious seminary
u ecclesiastical body. who is citizen
Vi Maine. and resident thereof, with
OUT the payment of the fee mentioned
IN +. l.. 1907. Chap. 80.
certificate. authorizing the holder
10 Solemnize marriages. may be issued
10 clergyman who is a resident OF
me State. even though he may not be
citlzen thereof, upon the conditions
ana upon the payment of the fee men,
'ohed in p. l.. 1907, Chap 80.
chairman Carleton of the Commits
sion of Inland Fisheries and Game
mas returned from the trip to Kittery
ana vicinity where he had been in the
interests of the commission on &C
count of reports that hunters from
across the New Hampshire line hat
been over into Maine after deer. and
mat there had been some DIGGING
deer in that vicinity. 1t is understood
mat there may be some developments
I IN that section later
Several improvements are in pro-
gress at the State House, among
which may be mentioned new lava
tory which is being installed in the
east end of the State treasury to take
the place of the old one which was OF
very obsolete type and not in keep
ing with the requirements of the de-
partment. The new lavatory is OF
White enamel. like the others about the
building. with open plumbing. and will
prove a decided change for the better
Another Improvement has been made
IN the department of vital statistics
Where a non siphonable trap has beer
placed in the lavatory to supercede the
old trap. on account of trouble from
sewer gas. which was due to the slph'
oning of the old trap.