Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-04-11
Marrying Parson" Ties
5000 Knots, Receives
$4,000 I'm 46 Years

marrying parson, tied the nup-
tial knot for the fiv ethousandth
time in his extensive coupling up
career.
Five thousand couples In forty
six years, and $4,000 in wedding
fees! The Rev. Mr.. Savidge chal-
lenges the regularly ordained pas
tors of the entire U. s. to match
his match making attainments.
In three ponderous tones, writ
ten in Mrs. Savidge's hand, the
entries into double harness via
the Rev. Mr.. Savidgs are kept
by a sort OF double entry syAtem'
each bride and bridegroom being
allotted a serial number. Naive
asides, in red ink, recount human
interest incidents Of many OF the
couple.
What romances are contained
in that record OF almost half a
century.
AS he thumbed over the yell
lowed records, MIR. Savidge chanc-
ed upon many interesting episodes
There was wedding No. 1857.
A young girl, pretty and penni-
less, lying i'll of scarlet fever In
the emergency hospital, found lie
worth living when her loys', a
brave young tar OF the U. 5. D.
Tallahassee, came all the way
from the west coast to Omaha to
marry her. The Rev. Mr.. Sayidge
has performed many marriages
when one Of the contracting par
ties was Ill in bed, but none at
which he more gladly officiated.
And take wedding No. 1913,
disastrous affair, proving con-
clusively the jinx of the nnlucky
number. The groom committed
suicide three days after the cere-
mony.
PRAYER Followed by $50 Fee
"The largest fee l ever receiy-
ed was $50. l prayed eight hours
for that. | needed that amount to
nay for new buggy. ] didn't
tell the bridegroom so, but 4 'Jld
the Lord, and He put 1t into the
heart OF that man to hand me five
$40 bills.
"The most famous man ] ever
married was Joe Stecher.
"The meanest bridegroom J
ever married was No. $40. Nice
appearing chap, Charles w. Nc
Rown. Told me he was minis
ter's son. But just three days at
ter | pronounced the words which
made him and Mrs. Alice 7. CD
fee OF Omaha, man and wife, |
found out that he had thirteen
different wives on his trail. And
a 81. Patrick's day wedding II
was, at that"
The Rev. Mr.. Savidge has mahg
Irregular customers" at his mat
rimonial counter. In several In
stances he has officiated at a
woman's first and second mar
riage. He has married whole fam
lilies of brothers and sisters, and
in dozens OF cases has married
the son or daughter Of a couple
whom he married early in his ca
reer. Literally hundreds of names
appear on this book, first as wit
nesses and later as brides and
grooms. For instance. Groom No.
1890, entered recently, was wit
ness to wedding No. $500, which
occurred just four years ago,
Thirteen hundred couples in three
years! Weddings have come thick
and fast In these later days, and
what with a rushing matrimonial
business, regular pastorate, and
assisting in the celebration of
dozens of silver weddings, the
Rev. Mr.. savidgs is a very busy
man.
But now that he has attained
his goal he Is contemplating NOV
ing TO Seattle, Wash, retiring
from ectiye life, to write a book
entitled "Unequally Yoksd." He
believes he could embody in sucA
a volume a great deal of valuable
advice to persons choosing life
partners.
Marriage is the natural state
Df man---and woman, too" stout
" declares the Rev. Mr.. Sayidge,
who does everything In his pow
er TO encourage the minated to
lind eompanionship.
But he wants IL understood that
Il is no trivial matter.
Anything so excellent, so beau
tiful, so noble and lasting as mar .
Rage should not be entered into
lEhtly. ne says. Il often ask a
girl 10 take out her gum or al
nan 10 dispense with his cigar
whsn they come 10 me to be mar
lied.
oh, we dropped in just q
We were they tell me.
Then you are making nad !
mistake. I asnwers "A wedding Is
much more likely 90 be happy 4
ghen Ieo9le take thought for the
cr,mons. Why. I ordered a SIS
u;t made for my own wedding
n the davs when s35 was oonsid-
RED a hug price. And there new
r was a happier couple than Mrs.
avidgs ans l."
Both in his downtown office