Evening journal., 1915-04-14
MARRYING PARSON'
QUITS ELKTON. ND.
But Mr.. Quigg, M. E. Pastor
Denies Weddings Had Any
thing toDo With Transfer
DECLARE HE
MARRIED 800 COUPLES

The Rev Howard T. Quigg. one Of
two marrying parsons, who, it is
said, helped to increase the patronage
Of the Honeymoon Express" trains
out of Broad Street and French Street
stations has departed from the Elk
ton, Md. Methodist Episcopal Church.
He has been transferred to the
Greensboro. Md. Church
Mr. Quigg's post al Elkton will be
filed by the Rev. George p. Jones,
ID. d., formerly a superintendent in
the Salisbury District. Mr. Jones VIII
move into his new parsonage tomor-
row.
II is said that Mr.. Quigg married
more than 500 of the $500 couples
/ who Travelled on the Honeymoon EX-
press" last year. According TO Mr.,
I Quigg, who served two years al Elk
( ton, his transfer had nothing TO do
with the little matrimonial business
he transacted on the side. He denied
today that he had more than the
usual number OF marriage ceremonies
to perform.
my transfer was satisfactory TO
me in every way" he said "All this
!
son Is false, every line of il. It's as
false as licensed liars can make It,
There now, ! guess ! have said toe
much and perhaps | should say nc
more, for ! am not called upon tc
deny the statements. Every person
In Elkton who knows me, knows
did but little business with those who
went there TO marry. I wanted 10 h'
transferred because ! found it impos
sible to get along with some persons
in the church. There was groul
who were simply impossible. One oi
two years at Elkton is enough for an,
Methodist minister. My predecessor
for some years back can tell yol
that.
"They made il uncomfortable an'
unpleasant for me. and ! wanted
change. The statements about m.
marrying 30 many persons are un
reasonable and were put out becaus
of animus. II was not good for M
to be in such situation. I ha'
enough of II"
Denies Board OuSted Him.
Mr.. Quigg was told that the oflicia
board OF the Elkton church was sup
posed to be in measure responsible
for his transfer 81 do not believe
word Of IL unless they worked quietl.
and clandestinely." he said. 81 neve
; heard anything about the marryin
end of my pastorate at the recen
Z conference, and | am sure | woul
u have heard from the Bishop or fror
r other officials in the conference
b there had been any pressure brough
G to bear TO have me transferred
, Mr.. Quigg denied emphatically tina
, the cab drivers we're paid fifty cent
!, for each blushing bride brought Z
, his parsonage. and he likewise brand
ed as false statements that he ha
, charged big fees for performing cere
p monies.
An official Of the Elkton churc'
! heard what Mr.. Quigg had 10 sa.
4 Then he said I'VE asked for Nj
/. Ouigg's removal. We were tired o
= the notoriety and wanted it stoppe
so far as our church was concerned
d We sent a committee to the Confer
y ence to see what could be done 70
o ward making change. We aske
. for Mr. Jones and got him. Nh
Quigg wanted to come back, but W
were obdurate, because he had MAJ
I lltU lOO HihuN UtiNOhH| ~ sun A's RA
he was not as active in the churc
affairs as we thought he should haY
! been. Mr.. Quigg got $1,000 a yea
as pastor. and we figured II out th5
he had married more than 500 COZ
pies last year. aud had made frol
. 81. 500 TO $4,000 on the side.
. An intimate friend of Mr. Quigg too
exception 10 this last statement.
. heard Mr.. Quigg say he got from $40
. S45 q month from those he married.
said. IL was at his house one mig
. when he married three couples. He q
. 50 % for the three ceremonies, and q
certificates which he issued cost hi
twenty-three cents apiece.
= 81 was told that Mr.. Quigg used
=. give cabmen little bonus at first but
!. am sure he never solicited the bu-ine'
and that he never entered into an
agreement with the cabmen. There ha'
been many changes at the Elkton chur'
and Mr. Quigg is correct in saying Il
congregation is restless and wants
change every year or two. Mr.. Qnigg
one of the best men in the Wilmngt,