New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-09
CARPENTER PREACHER
FOR ASTOR WEDDING?
Venerable Rhode Island Baptist
Clergyman Says He
Got Offer.
READY TO TIE THE KNOT
Rumor of Ceremony To-day at
Newport-Yacht Noma, with
Colonel Astor and Miss
Force, Sailed Yesterday.

CldTeO he nau not Deen ueliHlttIS tH-
gagged to oficiate, Edwin S. Straight. a
carpenter Of East Providence. who is
a venerable retired minister of the Bap-
tist denomination, said tonight that he
believes he will perform the ceremony
uniting in marriage Colonel John Jacob
Astor and Miss Madeleine T. Force. of
New York. II was said here to-day that
the ceremony would take place In New
port tomorrow.
Mr.. Straight. discussing the matter on
his return home tonight from his days
work at the carpenters bench. said that
he was approached last Tuesday by
Richard y. Comstock. Of Providence.
lawyer, who has sounded" several min
listers in Rhode Island as To their will
ngness to officlate at Colonel Astors
wedding. Mr.. Straight told Mr.. Com
stock, as he informed reporters to-day,
that he will marry anybody with a
license and that he has no objection TO
performing the marriage ceremony in
case where one of the parties has been
divorced.
According TO Straight, he has had
more than one conference with Mr.. Com
stock regarding the matter. and while
he is not certain that he will perform
the ceremony, it is his belief that he
Will do so. He said that he had made
an appointment with Mr.. Comstock TO
go to Newport within a few days, but he
could not say just what he would do
there. He declined 10 say whether he
was going to Newport tomorrow. as
was reported
Mr.. Straight is seventy years old, and
his beard gives him somewhat of
patriarchal appearance. Thirty years
ago he was pastor of a small Baptist
church in Warren, and at times since
then has supplied various country pull
pits Recently he has devoted himself
almost wholly TO carpentcring. though
he has occasionally otficated at mar
riage or funeral. He appeared at the
office of the city Registrar late to-day
ana re-registered. so that there might re
10 question as to the legality Of the
ceremony, his permit to perform mar
riages having lapsed when he gave up
preaching some time ego.
In connection with the report from
New York that Colonel Astor's yacht
Noma was being supplied for long
voyage, Mr.. Straight was asked as TO the
extent Of his jurisdiction for performing
marriage ceremony. He said his
authority does not extend outside Of
Rhode Island. but that he can officiate
anywhere in this state, or if necessary.
on board a vessel within the three mile
limit" on the other hand. it was said
that he was not qualified TO perform
marriages outside of Providence.
1T is my custom never to set any
price on my services for performing a
marriage" Mr.. Straight said. Il am
willing to take as little or as much as
is sreely given to me. ! think the Rev.
F Lewis Brooks. of Little Compton. and
the Rev. Edward A. Johnson. of New
port. who are said to have turned down
offers Of $1,000 each to perform the
ceremony. we're very foolish"
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune
Newport, X l.. Sept. S.-While City
Clerk Frank y. Fullerton. of this city
will not admit that Colonel John Jacob
Astor has arranged for marriage H.
cense, it is the firm belief here tonight
that such is the case.
II is also said on what appears to be
good authority that the wedding will take
Il
place in Newport. some time Tomorrow.
II would be possible for parties desr
ing to be Tlarr.ed to have the city Clerk
call upon hem and make out the neces
sary application in his presence at their
home or anywhere else. and 1t would be
legal in every way. This is believed to
be what has happened in regard to
Colonel Astor and Miss Force though
Fullerton will not admit ii directly. His
answer to question as 10 whether or
not Colonel Astor could be married here
tomorrow. provided he had a min
lister to perform the ceremony. is taken
to mean that everything is arranged.
In answer to this question city Clerk
Fullerton said: Il don't see why not.
if they have complied with the law"
Further ,han this he said: Il do not
feel that | can give out any information
from my office until il is a matter of
record. ! never have given out a mar
riaee license since ] have held this office
without il first being recorded, and do
not intend 70 do IL with this one If the
ceremony takes place here"
Colonel John Jacob Astor, with his
fancee, Miss Madeleine T. Force. and
her father William H. Force. left ,,ew
York at > o'clock yesterday afternoon on
board the steam yacht NOma starting
from the New York Yacht Club station
at the foot Of West Slst street. AL
though the yacht is coaled and pro-
visioned for a long cruise. Colonel Astor
and his secretary intimated that the
trip was merely To Robbins Island or TO
some other point in the Sound for the
sake of fishing, such as Colonel Astor
undertook with his fancte and her
father about two weeks ago.
Colonel Astor and his secretary denied
the rumor current to the effect that the
marriage had already taken place, but
declined TO commit themselves TO any
positive statement that the wedding
would not take place before the return
Of the Mona. IL Is understood that Miss
Forces trousseau was put on the Noma