The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-12
ASTOR WEDDING
DIVIDES CHURCH
Action Of DR.. Lambert In Offici-
ating Stirs Up Big Fuss
at Providence
WILL BE CALLED ON CARPET
Ecclesiastical Ostracisn" is Threat
ened Upon Him by Ministers
of His City.

Providence. r. /. Sept. 12.-Tne Rev.
Joseph Lambert, who leaped from ec-
clesiastical obscurity into world wide
notice because OF officiating at the
marriage OF Colonel John Jacob AS
tor and Miss Madeline II. Force at
Newport, on Saturday, now faces a
flock of parishioners who are thor
oughly aroused over his action. IT is
understood he will be summoned be.
fore the general conference of tne
Congregational church to explain.
Il took the counsel OF several minis
ters In the city Providence) and
found that they thought generally as
did about the MARRIAGE" said Dr.
Lambert. II see no necessity for any
explanation or defense Of my action
In marrying Colonel Astor. have
been informed today that several
members OF my church are indignant
over the matter. That | expected. But
am gratified to believe that the ma
jority, In fact the greater proportion
Of our members. approved of what I
did Today number of the most
prominent and influential persons in
my congregation came forward vol
UNFAIRLY to congratulate me. Where
heard of one or two who opposed my
act. four or five i'm person approved
of It. SO evidently that proportion
thinks I. did right.
'In the Congregational church there
is no bishop or any other church head,
so to speak, to whom its ministers are
held amenable. We are independent
as the heads of our respective
churches. They may call me to ac-
yes That is the only body which
may discipline me. But | have no
fear OF being called there. They will
not dare to call me. Why? Because so
per cent of the ministers OF this
church perform such marriages all the
time"
DEPRESSING abruptly to another
phase of this matter, Or. Lambert
said: "Now, as to the fee from Col
pnel Astor. That is something of
an entirely personal matter between
Colonel Astor and myself"
'But, Mr.. Lambert as several min
listers refused an offer OF $1,000. the
public desires To know whether you
received even more than this unusual
amount?"
''There was never an offer OF 81 300
to anyone to perform this ceremony"
was the surprising rejoinder. 81 am
sure Of that because those who en-
gagged me and who knew all the facts
in the other cases told me no such Of
fer had ever been made.
"When I was asked to name my
fee, I refused. I did not want II said
afterward that I had acted for any
certain sum of money. I told them
that always received 81 or such ad-
ditional money as the bridegroom
gave voluntarily, a I'd that | would not
change It. OF course" said DIR. Lam
bert, laughing, "it is natural to be-
lieve that Colonel Astor gave me
more than 81"
The stewards of the church have
been called together for Wednesday
night. but all insist this will be for
plans for an entertainment.
Threaten Ministerial Ostracism.
Ecclesiastical ostracism" Is threat
ened apon DIR. Lambert by the min
listers of the leading churches Of Pro-
regardless of denomination.
His action will he discussed at the
meeting of the Ministerial union and
the Federation of Protestant Church
Ministers.
The Rev. Asbirty Krone OF Benef-
cient Congregational church said I'll
have made IL n rule not to marry the
guilty party to n divorce suit. AT
our meetinf of all the Congregations
al ministers or the Providence
churches expect this Astor wedding
will be discussed. l do not know OF
anything we can do to DIR. Lambert,
but ostracism may follow"
The action of the Rev. Mr.. Lam
bert is deplored by other pastors OF
Providence Protestant churches. The
Rev. william Harvey Bath, Asbury
M. II. church. said: mo. no money
would tempt me to perform such a
ceremonv"