Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-01-09
was signed and then speeding to Rockville

" an eishteen-year-old girl before the in
had hardly dried on the divorce papers.
Friends of the marrying parsons" VII
are termed liberals" declare the "conse
vative" faction is dragging skeletons o,
OF dusty closets. The conservatives, i" the
declare. are bringing to the surface scar
dals concerning elopements to the tow
that have been dead for years. The ele
ment antagonizing the "Gretna Green
practice retort with charges that "rieh
now" any couple could be married in tn
town.
That's an outrageous falsehood, de
clared Rev. Mr.. Richardson, of the "libeE
ais" when told of this charge. 81 am sur
neither Mr.. White nor myself have eve
married persons who showed signs of ire
sponsibility. Now, what is the proper thin
for clergyman to do when a young maj
and girl who probably have come from
some point in Virginia. and have beef
from home all day. arrive at a rectory to b
married late at night Are we to run then
awayH If we did. what would they do
They would. in nine cases out of ten, b,
afraid to 60 home. The match, if made
would presumably turn out happily. TIL,
question is whether it is best to refuse I,
marry couples under these conditions, O
just make them man and wife, and thwar
certain evils which would ensue other
wise"
Bent under the weight of more thar
seventy-five years. the Rev. Samuel White
known to hundreds of persons whom hi
has joined in wedlock as the marrying
parson" of Rockville. waxed indignant
when told of the charges made against
him and brother clergyman by the ICON.
servatives."
Yes, | have married more than 15C
couples during the last year." the venera.
Bile clergyman exclaimed abruptly, when
queried on the question: I'm proud of it
I'm going to continue to marry all those
who come and satisfy me that in the eyes
Of the Lord they are worthy of each other
Ordinarily, the folks who come to me
are examples Of pure and wholesome love
who wish to avoid the expense of cele-
bration in connection with their marriage
Only few minutes ago married street
car conductor and girl from Seneca, Md.
who frankly confessed they came to Rock
vile to be married quietly because they
thought it best to put money in furnishing
a nice little flat in Washington. rather thar
spend the money in celebrating.
ITO say that | marry everybody who
comes to me is falsehood. have turned
down three or four couples within the
year, and will turn down any pair whom
think unsuited for each other.
can explain why most of these couples
come to me by the fact that am right al
the court house door practically and neal
the car line 1t takes a couple but few
seconds to get to my house, and then but
few more seconds to walk to the cars
and return to Washington, or wherever else
they wish to 60 from the town. This agi
tation is vicious and unjust"
Two of the leading organizations of the
town-the Rockville Union Bible Class and
the Inquiry Club-have both gone on record
against the marrying business" Recent
ly the Inquiry Club, cooperating with the
Federated Women's Clubs of Montgomery
county. passed resolutions condemnine the
practices alleged to be INDUCED in by the
marrying parsons" and advocating leg
islation to stem the tide of Opponents.
Amy couple walking in the vicinity O.
the court house, whether they are married
or not. are liable to be approached by {
certain clergyman and asked If they wan
to be married." declared an official Of tn,
Social Betterment League of Rockville to
day. Conditions are awful. The none!
these clergymen make has caused them t
resort to practices which endanger thu
reputation of the town. Eliminate thu
money element from these marriage cere
monies and fewer will be performed. mucl
to the benefit of the town.
Some law passed by the Maryland leg
islature several years ago which for while
remedied in a measure the evil of these
hasty marriages. But the practice has
grown up again. and something must bt
done. Members of all of the organizations
in the town will band together and request
the legislature for more stringent laws
That's the only thing we can do now tC
save the towns repute."