A PERPLEXED PARSON.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 January 1919, Page 6

A PERPLEXED PARSON.

TWO ELSIE MAYS AND TWO

MATTHEWS.

That truth is sometimes stranger than. fiction is proevd by an occurrence in Auckland this w cek. The Bov. Jasper Calder received a telephone message from a Mr. H. Marthews, who stated that he wanted to he married in St. Matthew’s Church the following day. The name of the hride elect was given as Miss E sie May Robertson. The date was duly entered in the clerical diary. An appointment was made for the following Tuesday evening, when they were to ae interviewed by the clergyman and produce their papers. On Tuesday morning the church verger informed Mr Calder that a Mr. H. Matthews had just called to arrange a marriage ceremony in the church on Thursday, Hie name given for the bride elect in this instance was Miss Elsie May Lindsay. Mr. Calder replied: “Oh, you are making a mistake; that chap is going to marry a girl named Elsie May Robertson, to-morrow.” The verger, however, was positive the lady’s name was Lindsay, adding; “He spelled it out for me.,” Referring to the position, Mr. Calder remarked: “Here was a problem for a poor perplexed parson, seeing I had once the misfortune to officiate in what afterwards proved to be a higamous marriage. How was I to marry a man named H. Matthews to Elsie May Robertson on Wednesday, and to Elsie May Lindsay on Thursday. I had. visions of detectives making searching inquiries about the affair later on. I had almost decided that it would he as well to demand a photograph of the Elsie May who was married to H. Matthews- on Wednesday, and produce it at the wedding on Thursday in a melodramatic manner to the bridegroom. I had forgotten the little 'Word coincidence. On Tuesday night Mr. H. Matthews arrived with Miss Elsie May Robertson and the pair were duly married the following day. On Thursday another Mr. H. Matthews was married to Miss Elsie May, and I then found we were all right. The first couple was Mr. Haywood Matthews and Miss Elsie May Robertson, and the couple married yesterday afternoon were Mr.. Henry Matthews and Miss Elsie May Lindsay, so I am now free of any fear when I meet a detective in the street.” i