Evening journal., 1912-10-18
RECTOR FOR
PUBLICITY

Discussing "Wilmington--A Gretna
Green" in Trinity Parish Annals, the
Rev f. NJ. Kirkus, rector Of Trinity
says in part;
1T is a matter of common motor.
icty that many people are married In
Wilmington who are not residents
Of the city or State. Until a few
years ago the marriage laws of Della
ware were exceedingly lax, and there
was nothing to prevent the issuance
Of a marriage license 10 any one who
applied for it,-except the common
sense and good judment OF the magis-
trate applied to. 7 have frequently
had licenses presented to me by per-
sons under the age at which | could
legally marry them, the responsible
lty of rejecting them resting at that
time with the clergy and not with the
issuer of the license.
"A great improvement was made
when the granting Of licenses to
persons under age was made Illegal
In this State. but there are still some
features of the law which are capable
Of improvement, and we are all in
debted to the Rev. Mr.. Jackson, pas
tor of Hanover Presbyterian Church,
for his praiseworthy efforts to secure
the prompt publication Of all mar
riage licenses issued within our bor-
ders.
"But Wilmington also attracts
great many couple who are entirely
Justified in marrying, and who should
not be confOunded with the other
class that have designated. Trinity
Church has during the past four
months been the scene of more mar
riages than in any other similar peril
od during the present rectorate. Just
how it has happened that there were
so many more applicants than usual
we do not know They have come
simply because they have asked for
an Episcopal Church and been di-
rected hither A number of them
have been sent away, after being per-
sudaded that their contemplated mar
riage was unwise and had better be
postponed, or take place under other
circumstances. Others have been mar
ried under sad conditions which rem
dered it a less evil than the alter
native. But most of the unions have
been between people Of mature age,
or of moderate means, or OF retiring
disposition, who have come here to es-
cape the expense and excitement in
cident to wedding at home. Very
seldom is there any show Of levity,
or any expressed desire for secrecy.
In the few exceptional cases, the
contracting parties are given to un-
derstanp that the clergy of Trinity
parish will be no party to conceal
ment, and are reminded of the sol
emn nature of the step they are about
TO take before any ceremony is per-
formed. With every requirement OF
the law fulfilled, and every possible
precaution taken against levity OF de-
ception on the part Of the candidates
for marriage, it becomes a serious
question whether a clergyman has a
right to refuse TO solemnize a union
which has been unalternately deter
mined upon, and which will probably
be performed without due regard to
its solemn and sacred character if he
sends the couple away.
Certainly il is true that every
safeguard against improper or impru-
dent unions should be employed by
the law, and we ought all to be CRATE
full for such frank expressions as that
by John S. Hamilton in The Sunday
Star on August 11th. But the impress
sion that all marriages of non-resi-
dents are improper or imprudent
needs to be corrected. They are more
frequently than not lin the observa-
tion of the writer the result of ex-
isting custo.ls which entail gross ex-
travagances, and often to avoid the
unseemly tricks and practical jokes
which sometimes cause serious in
convenience and embarrassment To
people married under more conven-
tional conditions"
business and solemnity of marriage
md its severance from unseemly