Evening journal., 1921-10-05

church. also that his conduct was
n juring the church. According to
DIR. Watt. MIR. Western replied he
had no concern with the church, but
that his responsibility was to God
alone"
When asked by DR.. Watt for his
authority to marry couples, Mr..
Western produced credentials as a
located" preacher. signed by Bishop
Cooke, OF the Montana Conference.
He also said he was located illegal
iy." but did not appear much per-
turbed about his position" Mr.
Western also told DR.. Watt he was
engaged lin secular business"
Dr. Watt said Mr.. Westren gave
him the name OF A. B. Adams,
Helena, Mont. as secretary Of the
Montana Conference. He wrote to
Helena and was informed there was
no such person. DIR. Watt also
wired to Bishop Lewis. who replied
that for reasons sufficient to the
---'-.-o '--'''o-~-ce said r. T. W est
rem was located"
Mr.. Western was here given OPP
ness. He asked DR. Watt who had
given him Information that he
| CWestren) was marrying couples.
Dr. watt said he had received a copy
OF the Cecil whig, Of Elkton, con-
taining an editorial scoring mar
riage ceremonies. DR.. Watt also
said he received a letter from Dr.
Anderson, OF Elkton. stating that
Mr.. Westerns conduct was not what
It should be.
DR.. Anderson was next sworn. He
said situation in Elkton had resolved
itself into "a combination OF two
groups OF taxi men who "pounce on
Couples as soon as they arrive and
carry them to men who divvy on the
fees"
Things are so bad. went on DR.. Al
derson, that the clerk OF the court
now forbids taxi men to enter the
Court House with couples. Dr. Al
derson said he knew OF no regular
lv stationed" minister in Elkton who
was participating in such practices
hut did know Of preachers who had
been injured by the commercialism
OF marriage
DR.. Anderson cofroborated Dr.
watts testimony regarding the in
terview with Mr.. Western. He said
Mr. western Haunted" the author
ity OF the Methodist Church, ana
had declared that If the Methodist
Episcopal Church wouldn't let him
continue marrying couples. some
other church would
DR.. Anderson produced certihed
COPIES of Cecil county records snow
inp that Mr.. Western had married
couples on September 3 and 20. sep
tember 3 was the day after DIR. Watt
had warned him to desist marrying
Mr. western asked DR.. Anderson
II he. CDR Alderson) had not peen
ousted from a train for sohcitlhs
marriaeeable couples. This question
was ruled out, although DR.. Alder
son said he was perfectly willing
to answer 1t.
DIR. Watt was recalled and testl-
fed that Mr.. Western had never
been registered as minister IN any
Of the quarterly conferences IN inc
Wilmington District.
william Davis. a layman OF the
Elkton Methodist Church, testified
that commercialized marriage nae
been Injurious to the church
Here Mr.. Western took the wlt
ness chair in his own behalf. H'
said DR.. Anderson had advised Elk
ton iitney men to get someone els'
besides himself to do the marriage
work. l. therefore, took 1t up
] said Mr.. Western. II see no harm
in IT," Dr. Anderson, he added
had been to see hin, but had no
asked him to discontinue the wori
nor had disapproved Of It.
After Dr. Anderson had visited
him. Mr.. Western continued, DIR.
watt aud DR.. Anderson called OF
him together. Mr.. Western saiI
that IL he had manifested indifer
ence," it was because the same crit
cism had been previously directed
against the church.
on REORGANIZATION, Mr.. West
rem modified his declaration tina
| Mr.. Anderson had not objected t'
, him. (Westren), continuing the mar
, riage practice. He admitted tina
DR.. Anderson had declared the prac
, tice was injurious TO the church.
Mr. Westren also admitted ma
the jitney men had told him tha
Doctor Anderson had advised then
o TO get some one else to do the mar
riage work, because he (Alderson
1 would not do il. The jitney men ais
= told him (Westren) about a combin
among iitney men, but said the
= weren't in It and wanted to break
I up. These jitney men, he added sal
8 they we're being discriminate
Z agains because the other men wer
81 taking couples to the Rev. Dr. Moor
e a Baptist minister"
/, The jitney men wanted some othe
r. minister to whom they could tax
y couples. said Mr.. Western. and ha
said they wanted TO "split fees" an
n named a certain percentage. TIL
n percentage he said was "50-50." Th
is jitney men. Mr.. Western declares
had stated that couples had bee
y paying from 50 20 $40 each, and
q some cases more than that.
v Mr.. Western said he since ha
= learned he had been legally locate
!. by the Montana Conference.
y. which he had been member six Z
/, seven years. holding charge in But
y, City and Laurel. Mont. His la
,r charge was in Laurel, three yea
n ago. Then he was given a supe
numerary relation. he said. He the
es took up the business OF farmin
81 Then he moved TO Elkton. He sa
ro he neve. had received notice he n,