Middletown transcript., 1911-04-08
OUR MARRYING PARsON
Change of Program---From
Funerals TO Marriages

When the Rev. Vaughn S. Collins came
to our town from Port Deposit to take
charge of Bethesda Methodist Episcopal
Church as its pastor, the very day be
arrived be was asked to have charge of q
funeral; and during the next six months
it was a succession of funerals in such
rapid succession that friends of the pastor
remarked that they had never known o
pastor to have so many funerals in and
about Middletown in such short time.
But now the program has entirely
changed, and it is stream of marriage
couples that wend their way to Bethesda
parsonage, or request the pastor Of
Bethesda to come to the home and tie the
nuptial knot. In answer to pointed
question the other day DR.. Collins said
that while he has not made careful
count be is quite sure that he has married,
by far, more couples during the two
years he has been in Middletown than
during the five years he was in Port
Deposit. This is not due to the fact that
be did not have his share of what marri-
ages there we're in Port Deposit, for be
had more marriages to perform than any
pastor there during the time; but from
the fact that Port Deposit at the time of
his pastorate did not have crop OF
manageable couple on hand who meant
business. At Middietown, on the other
hand, it seems as though he has arrived
in the midst of ripe harvest all ready
for the marriage reaping, and that they
want him to perform the ceremony.
This week DR.. Collins has already
married two couples and refused one.
Last Sunday evening, after the services at
the Church, there came to the parsonage
Mr.. Samuel J. Jester and Miss Ethel
FAIRIES, of Black bird, who we're married
in the presence of the BRIDES sister and
brother.in.Iaw, Mr.. and Mrs. Alfree.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jester will 60 at once to
live on the latter's farm near Townsend.
The other happy couple came last
wednesday, night before the prayer
meeting. Notwithstanding the storm
they were promptly on hand, and their
appearance gave no indication that they
had driven ten miles or 80 through such
a storm and over such roads. The groom
was Mr.. MiIlard W. Goit # Mount
Pleasant, and the bride Miss Hannah G.
Davis, ol Kirkwood. Miss Rebecca II.
Collins stood as witness for them. Mr..
and Mrs. Colt will reside near Mt.
Pleasant.
But while DR.. Collins is having large
number of marriages he is no sense
marrying parson" who marries any
ooupiie ooupiie wttf0 prefers = Fee. 0a staaaaF
night last in the course of sermon he
incidentally touched upon the sanctity of
love and the marriage vow, and stated
that he never married man nor woman
who had living partner, no mstter how
many divorces they might hold, that he
believed the scripture to teach marriage
is for life, and that he never would
desecrate the holy state OF matrimony by
recognizing divorce granted by some
human court based on some man.made
law. Little did he think at the time he
would be so soon tested.
By noon Monday couple came to be
married, the groom from Philadelphia,
and the bride from Mahanoy City, Pa,
desiring DR.. Collins to unite them in
marriage. As soon, however, as be found
the groom had divorced wife living he
promptly and emphatically-~ refused to
perfUrm tie tie ceremony. Sc fas as be i
concerned no divorces need apply, no
matter what plea may have been entered
in the courts, so long as the former part
ner is alive.
But for all couples of good morals and
true love there is smile of greeting, a
cordial welcome, and very pretty line of
marriage certificates awaiting them if
they call upon the pastor Of Bethesda.