Evening journal., 1922-01-16

Knights Of Pythias, installed its new
officers on Saturday night. Herbert
Boyd. deputy grand chancellor, of
ficiated. Refreshments were served
following the ceremonies.
tional When formal complaint was
made there was nothing for him to
do but to proceed according to the
discipline Of his church. He acted on
the advice Of his superior officer.
ut might be Of interest to the
public to know that attention was
called to the fact that another min
ister' had been induced to act in con-
junction with certain Ntneuers. But
the moment that minister's atten-
tion was called to the nature OF the
practice (in fact before a letter
reached him, he because. OF what he
saw. absolutely declined to act fur
ther even going so far as to say that
If any couples were brought to his
parsonage he would refuse to marry
them under any circumstances Not
so Mr.. Western. He continued TO dis
regard all warnings and advice and
even when told that discipline must
be resorted to he paid no heed but
continued his fifty-fifty practice,
and showed his defiance by marrying
even after his expulsion.
"There is no wish on the part Of
anybody to prosecute or molest, but
we have a right to demand that the
dignity and rights of a church with
the standing OF the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, shall he respected.
The courts everywhere. whenever
the isue was joined have ruled that
in al cases except where property
rights are involved, that is title 10
the church property. the rules and
nrovisions Of the Book OF Discipline
OF the Denomination shall be observ-
ed. and. II relief is sought ii must
be sought within the law OF the de-
nomination to which the individual
belongs. Further, il by any act mem.
bership in the denomination is for
feited the courts cannot interfere.
I'm this case a local minister,
iocal minister by virtue of the fac
that his location terminated hil
membership IN an Annual Confer
ence. is tried and unfrocked. Ye
he perversely retains a credentia
which belongs to the Annual Con
ference within the bounds Of which
he was expelled, and an attorney ad
vises that unfrocked local preacher
that he has a right TO perform tn
marriage ceremony by virtue Of
paper rendered void by expulsion
And the unfrocked local ministe
claims relation with a Conference
where his membership was termi
mated by due process of law. Mean
time he knows this fact. and. know
also that he acknowledged the juris
diction Of the Wilmington Confer
ence, submitted to trial and was b!
a unanimous verdict expelled. lie
the public judge"
DR.. Watt today also said that
draft OF the proposed amendment
Ito the Maryland marriage laws j
lin the hands OF a senator of tina
state and will be made public whei
introduced shortly in the Legisla
lture. He said there is a determin
iation on the part Of a large mum
the present law amended and tina
the only opposition expected is from
the jitney men.
Dr. Watts says:
"a large number OF inhuentia
people outside the State have be
come interested in this much needed
reform. Letters are coming from
persons who have been married b.
other than the regular ministers q
Elkton and elsewhere inquirin
whether the marriage is legal. 9th
ers have written complaining agains
the exorbitant charges of the jut
neuers. and it is alleged that Will
.hc marrying parsons engaged by n
| iitneuers these men are busy max n.
, out the marriage certificate. Othe
irregularities much more serious ar
/ alleged TO the extent OF causing
scandal 1t is reported that tn
whole matter will be come before tn
, Courts for adjudication.