AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 26 October 1907, Page 4

AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

Probably most readers bare heard the »tory of the absent-minded clergyman who got hopelessly mixed up between an announcement of a public baptism of infants, and one relating to the issue of new hymn books. His mind wandered and he convulsed hU congregation by requesting mothers to be in the vestry .with their babies at such a time, and adding dreamily, "All who have not already provided themselves with them, can obtain them faom the verger, in limp eovart\for a shilling, or with extra stiir back* for eighleenpence." Thti absent-minded clerk mntt "take * back aeat" to the parson who officiated at a wedding that took place a few days ago in laki Abots, a Somerset village near Szninder. Be conducted .what matt do the most amazing marriage celebrated in ft church of any denomination.

As eoon u the Rmpla bad taken up their position before the nils they were •BUM to bur file officiating clergyman recite to exserpt from the Burial' Service:—

"We therefore commit their bodies to the ground; earth, to earth, ashes to ashes ..."

He continued reading Until the indignant pair reminded him of the objeet of their presence, whereupon be had a fresh try. This was little better. iflaunched into the order for the Public Baptism of Infants. At the next attempt he got on the right track, bit when the ring was placed on the bride',. finger the reverend gentleman said, *Peace, perfect peace." As practically everything but the marriage ceremony had been touched upon, doubt existed in the minds of the contracting parties as to the strict legality Of the ceremony, so the best man cycled into a neighboring town and obtained another clergyman, who tied the knot in the conventional manner. Tt has transpired that the cause of the Isle Abots clergyman's peculiar conduct %as a mental breakdown brought alio it by financial troubles. Merviewcd by a reporter the clergyman efated lh.it as to what occurred in the church hi* mind Was a blank. He had, it appeared, suffered from sunsfrolte in South Africa. And that, together with his daughter's Seath and Ms subsequent bankruptcy. brought on insomnia. The Bishop of Bafh and Wells has suspended him from takin; clerical duty in the diocew pendfeg «ft Investigation into his conduct,