The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-11
ADVERTISING IS
NOW NECESSARY
Preacher, Who Married Col.
Astor So Declares
About Church
SEES NO NECESSITY
FOR EXPLANATION
Says Fifty Per Cent of Min
listers of His Denonina-
ton Perform Such
Ceremonies

PROVIDENCE. r. l.. Sept 10
The Rev. Joseph Lam bert. who leap
ed from ecciesiastical obscurity into
Worldwide notice by officiating at the
marriage OF Colonel John Jacob AS
tor and Miss Madeline Taimage Force,
at Newport, on Saturday. faced flock
OF Practitioners to-day who are thor
oughIy aroused over his action.
When DIR. Lam bert arose to deliver
his sermon this morning In Elmwood
Temple the local Congregational
church. OF which he Is the pastor,
he found his followers divided in
their opinions Of his act,
1t is understood that he will be
summoned before the general con-
ference OF the Congregational church
to explain.
The minister avoided direct refer
ance to the subject that forcibly iden-
tilted him IN every mind. But when
ne declared his belief that one thing
necessary to bring people to church
is 10 advertise your church," there
was a pesceptih.e stir.
Il took the counsel of several min
listers in the city (Proyldence) and
! found that they thought generally
as did about the marriage" said
Or. Lambert to-day
Exploration Not Necessary.
/ see no necessity for any expla-
nation Of defense OF my action In
marrying Colonel Aston" said Rev
Lam bert 4 have been Informed
to-day that several mem bers of my
church are indignant over the mat
ter. That / expected. But am graf
ified 10 believe that the majority. in
fact, the greater proportion OF our
mem befs. approve OF what / did To-
day number OF the most prominent
and influential persons in my con-
grsgauon came forward voluntarily
IL congratulate me. Where | heard
Of one or Two who opposed MY act.
four or five in person approved of 1t.
SO evidently that proportion thinks
/ did right.
I'm the Congregational church
there Is no bishop or any other
church head. So 10 speak. TO whom
lts ministers are held accountable.
We are independent as the heads OF
eur respective churches They may
call me to- account before the gen
eraI conference~-yes. that is the only
body that may discipline me. Bat
have no fear Of being called there.
They wili not dare to call me.
Why Because so per cent Of
the ministers Of this church perform
such marriages all the time"
Fes Was Not $1,000.
DEPRESSING abruptly to another
phase OF this matter. DR. Lambert
said:
Nov, AS 70 the fee. that is some
thing OF an entirely personal matter
between Colonel Astor and L."
Put. DR. Lam bert, as several min
rel nj "a aF Nh
public desires to know what you re-
ceived"
There was never an offer of 81 900
20 any one 10 perform this cere-
mony." was the reply Because
those who engaged me and knew all
tho facts in the other cases stated. no
such offer WAS made,
When I was asked u name my
fee refused. | did not want II said
afterward that / had acted for any
certain sum OF money. ! told them.
that / aiwase received one dollar or
such additional money as the bride
groom gave voluntarily. and that |
would not change It"
And Or. Lambert laughed. .It Is
natural to believe that Colonel Astor
gave more than one dollar"
After the morning service. Or.
al
members only" and thirty-five per-
sons attended. At the conclusion of
the meeting those who were ques-
toned declared that only plans for
mn entertainment were menticA~d.
The stewards OF the church have
heen called together for Wednesday
night. but all insist this viii be for
perfecting plans for the entertain
ment.
TO Ostraciar Pastor.
"Ecclesiastical ostracism" Is threat
ened upon DR.. Lambert by the minis
ters OF leading churches OF ProW-
dence. regardless of denomination. Ills
action will be discussed at the meet
ings of the Ministerial Union and the
Federation of Protestant Ministers to-
morrow.
Said the Rev. Ashury E. krem, OF
Beneficent Congregational church.
II have made 1t a rule not to marry
the guilty party to divorce suit. At
our meeting of all the Congregational
ministers of the Providence church
to morrow | expect this Aston we'd
ding Will be discussed. i do not know
of anything we can do to DIR. Lam
bert, but ostracism may follow"
Rev. Edward Holyoke. of Calvary
Baptist church; sssa ....5
would not do II for Colonel Astor's
entire fortune, and l don't think that
any self respecting minister would.
That is pretty hard on a neighbor or
u,fr1r: hut that Is the way~i feel about
it. In my Judgment II all the minis
trYs in the country we're called Into
convention they would overwhelming
~ decide against marriage for the
guilty party"
Rev. William HarveX Bath. Asbury
NJ f. church:
mo money would tempt me to per-
form such ceremony"
Rev. William G. Sargent, Broad
Street Christian church:
Il certainly would not have mar
rad Colonel Aston. Not even $4,000
sYcsld have tempted me. commit
tea Of federation OF churches nov has
his matter in hard"
.ev. John 4, Haynor, Feart Street
BAPTIST church.
Every clergyman meet expresses
the desire to see the uniform divorce