Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-03
1000 MARRIAGES
PASTORS RECORD
Rev. w. A. Knighten Says He Has
Conducted More Funerals
Than Weddings
TELLS OF HIS SMALL FEES
Big Hotel Ceremony Resulted In
His Being Given Dollar
and Quarter

If the Rev. w. A. Knighten were an
aspirant for championship honors in
any line of endeavor. it is probable
that he could easily land the title In
one direction, at least, with his record
of 5000 marriage ceremonies performed
since 1866, and a one-day record Of six
weddings. While he never has cared
to be known as the marrying parson,"
he officiated at wedding No. 5000
Thursday. and scarcely can escape the
title longer.
Becoming reminiscent last night, the
Rev Mr. Knighten related the follow
ing incidents in his long string of mar
riage experiences:
MANY people believe that the minis
ter's marriage fees are always large.
Now, that's where they are mistaken.
"Once / was requested to tie the
knot at q large hotel wedding, and for
the occasion invested in brand new
vest, white tie and white gloves.
FED Is s1.e5
AFTER two rehearsals, the big event
came off, and the hotel was crowded
with invited guests in evening clothes:
/ tied the knot without a hitch, and
after the two had been made man and
wife the groom proceeded to take up
collection for me. After making the
rounds he brought me back just SLIPS"
To illustrate the point that all small
marriage fees are not fruitless in the
end, Rev. Mr.. Knighten told the fol-
lowing:
"As the evening shadows began to
lengthen one day a very nice couple
came to my house to request my SER
vices in making them husband and
wife. After had concluded marrying
them my wife came into the room and
announced supper, and we asked them
to stay.
with merely a good by, they rushed
off after the meal and did not even
leave me a penny for my services. For
sixteen years we never had a word
from them. Then one morning l re-
ceived a letter asking for my correct
address, and a few weeks later 1 re-
ceived a check for $40 attached to an
explanation that their home had burned
down the night that I married them,
leaving them destitute.
''Now, make 1t q point to never
kiss a bride, as some ministers often
do" said the pastor, looking very
grave, "unless the parents or the prin-
cipals request it.
BEAT HIM THAT TIME
"Once 1 had a lovely young couple
to unite in wedlock. Both being prom
inent young folks, cultured and re-
fined, the wedding was to be a large
church affair. AS the ceremony drew
near close friends of the groom made
him believe that 1t had been passed
around that I would kiss the bride
first.
'Well, I was just in the middle of
the marriage ceremony, when sudden
ly, with a cry, I'll beat you this time,
parsonH he threw his arms around the
startled bride and smacked her a re-
sounding one on the lips.
"Of course, in performing so many
marriages, I sometimes have been de-
ceived," he said, "but never have
performed marriage ceremony when
] thought there was a shadow of a
doubt as to my right to do so.
"For instance, once I was Offered
anywhere from $500 to $1,000 If I would
marry a couple three miles out in the
ocean from San Pedro. told them
they had come to the wrong man."
In his long. experience as clergy
man, Mr.. Knighten asserts that he has
officiated at more funerals than we'd
dings. He is pastor of the Union Ave-
nue. M. e. church, at Union avenue and
Court street.
Samuel Lynch, formerly sergeant in
the British army, and Miss Mary Warn
of Colegrove were the couple married
Thursday, whose wedding scored 8OOO
for the pastor.