Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-09-16
How We Are Looked Upon Abroad
And At Home.
From the Baltimore Sun.

respect of right-minded people who regard
the marriage compact as too sacred to be
entered upon lightly Easy divorce is
largely the outcome of easy marriage.
While the State should not put any undue
obstacles in the way Of the honorable
union of man and woman, it should throw
ample safeguards around it,
"All the world loves lover" and smiles
on the ardent youth who has his lady love
in spite Of obstacles. But the infatuation
of an hour is no solid basis for happy
life. Sudden marriages are often followed
by long years of unhappiness. when hus-
band and wife find themselves unsuited to
each other. and eventually large proper
ton of them find their way into the di-
vOrce courts.
Every church and creed surround the
marriage altar with the solemnity that be-
fits SO important an event in life. Many
regard it as religious sacrament. and all
churches as an obligation not to be entered
into liehtly-a bond to bind man and
woman until death parts them. The State
recognizes this by putting the performance
of the ceremony largely in the hands of the
clergy. But even regarded only as civil
contract, it should certainly be put by
clerks of the courts and magistrates on at
least as high level as other bonds or
contracts. No clerk would suffer himself
to be aroused at midnight to record mort
gage or to issue license for any other
purpose.
The determination of the clerk at Rock
vile not to issue any more licenses outside
of his regular Office hours is certainly to be
commended, and the local ministers can
hardly do less than give him their support
by refusing to perform ceremonies except
at reasonable hours. Only few days ago
an inmate Of Washington insane asylum
went to Rockville after midnight, secured
a license and was married.
The new rule will not prevent the in
vasion of Rockville by clippers. But it is
a step in the right direction.
The unenviable reputation which Rock
vile seems to be making for itself in the
indiscriminate manner in which marriage
ceremonies there are performed is causing
the better thinking people of the commu-
nifty to indulge in severe criticism of those
responsible This has been noticeable since
the several recent matrimonial episodes in
which the town figured so prominently
and which attracted such widespread at
tentiOn.
Divorces seem to have no difficulty in
getting married there, and there have been
innumerable instances where mere chill
dren have embarked on the matrimonial
sea from this popular port. Worse still,
men plainly showing the effects of too
much drink have been allowed to enter
into the solemn contract.
Several of the Rockville ministers, how
ever, have always used every precaution
to prevent hasty. ill-considered and ill
advised marriages, and one of these is
Rev. Philip B. Mcclure. pastor of ST. Mary's
Catholic Church.
Father Mcclure holds very pronounced
ideas concerning the duty of minister in
administering the marriage laws, and in
discussing it said
THE minister of religion in the State of
Maryland is the only official who can per
form the marriage ceremony His is the
final judgment as to the fitness or unfit
ness of couples for the married state On
whether he will act OF not act depends
whether the couple coming to him shall or
shall not assume the responsibilities of
married life. The position he occupies in
relation to this all-important turn in the
life of man or woman is paramount to
what this new life means to themselves,
to society and to those who are most
closely affected by the union. Consequent
ly the minister who does not exercise the
authority confded in him according to the
gravity which the Importance of the mar
rage state entails sins against not only
his Office as a churchman. which should
compel him independently of any other
motive to seek only what is for the best
interests Of each and all of Gods people.
but he sins against the trust which the
State has given to him
This community particularly has been
frequently shocked by imprudent and reck-
less exercise Of this authority by its min
listers. and forced to blush because Of the
odium it reflects. As a remedy against
future repetitiOns of such evils would sug-
gest that the congregations make their
pastors responsible to them for their jude
ment In specific cases. which honest public
sentiment would class as at least incon-
sistent with right thinking.
ministers having no congregations or
regard for public sentiment should be de-
prived of their right to perform marriages,
either by the State or by the church
through unfrockine process.
| III nom Catholic denominations would
compel their ministers TO exact references
from responsible persons knowing the per
sons desiring to contract marriage, as does
the Catholic Church compel its priests in
all instances, much Of the scandal revealed
by the divorce court would not obtain
children would not so often be left home
less and much Of the odium would be re-
moved from the Gretna Greens otherwise
respectable communities lying next to all
large cities.
From my observation the one great
cause in Maryland of rash marriages is the
too great readiness Of the minister to per
form the ceremony. and being the chief
cause he is the chief blame for unwise and
thouehtless matrimonial unions.
warner Scents Battle.
The Rennhlican county committee me