Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-15
BAN UPON E[0PERS
Proposed Maryland Law Fa-
vored by Pastors.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Md, March 15..Elope-
ments of Washington couples. culminat-
ing in hasty marriages in Rockville, will
be thing of the past. If the bill which
Delegate Andrew ]. Cummings of Mont
gomery county expects to introduce in the
Maryland legislature becomes a law.
Much interest is being manifested in the
measure. Mr.. Cummings proposed bill
will make IT necessary to publish the
banns of marriage for three successive
Sundays in advance of the ceremony. and
| also will require that the ceremony be
performed by minister regularly in
charge of CHURCH or religious organiza-
ton. No retire( clergyman would be per-
mitted to officfate. AT present couple
can go to Rockville. get a license from
the county clerk. and be married within
fifteen minutes by any man who has ever
held position at the head of a church
The principle feature of the law, as it
would read If the Cummings bill is
enacted is as follOwS:
.No person within this state shall be
| Joined in marriage until license shall
| have been obtained from the clerk of the
| circuit court for the county in which the
marriage is to be performed, or If in Bal
| timore city, from the clerk Of the court
| of common pleas; or unless the names of
| thrice published in some church or house
| of religious worship in the county where
| the woman resides on three successive
Sundays, by some minister or clergyman,
| herein authorized to perform the mar
riage ceremony, residing in said county
+, or city"
Purposes Of Measure.
| The marriage customs of the Society
| of Friends would not be affected by this
law. as a specific exception is made in
that case. allowing them to contract .
marriage by certificate, according to es-
tablished custom.
| The principal object of the bill is to
| remedy conditions at Rockville and other
county seats near.large cities. from which
/ elopements are now frequent. The better
| class of people here are interested in the
| measure, as they see in it means of put
| ting to an end the indiscriminate admins
| tration of the marriage laws which have
| given the town the reputation of being
| an easy place for runaway marriages.
| Clergymen mere are interested in the
proposed bill. In discussing the matter
today Rev. Philip 3. Mcclure, pastor of
| st. Mary's Catholic Church. spoke of the
abuses which have grown out of the
present laws:
| Marriage in the state of Maryland
| he said, can be legally contracted only
| before a clergyman, or if the couple be
1
their custom. The law has placed no re-
| striction on the minister The funda-
mental principle of the marriage law is
| that the ceremony should be performed
| only by a minister actually in charge of
a congregation. In actual practice, any
| one who has at some time or another
| been in religious work as a clergyman
| can perform the ceremony.
Arraigns Practices.
| The proposed law would stop that. Re-
| tired clergymen would no longer be per-
nitted to traffic in this sacred rite, if
| any should be so disposed.
| 1T is a matter of fact that in this
state drunken men, insane persons, GRIM
| inaS and children have been united in
| marriage by INSCRIPTIONS men, who are
| clergymen by reason Of an ordination, but
| whose acts have proven them disgrace
! to their high calling. In consequence of
| the immoral use to which these men
| have lent their sacred offices certain
| Maryland towns have been brought into
| ill repute.'
On the other hand. Rev. F. r, White of
Rockville. well known to Washington
| runaway couples, is opposed to the bill.
| Rev. Mr.. White marries two or three
| Washington couples week. He said yes
! terday that He didn't think much of the
| Cummings BILL" but made no further
| explanation of his views.