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Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 169, 18 July 1903, Page 1

The strictures of the Bishop of London upon all and sundry who took part in the ceremony of the marriage of Mr W. K. Vanderbilt have nob passed without challenge. His Lordship was especially severe upon Dr Tristram, who has retaliated with a vigorous defence. He shows clearly (says the Argus correspondent) that it is obligatory upon him, under the Divorce Act, to grant licenses for the re-marriage ot divorced persons ; that such persons aro entitled to use the parish church for the celebration of their marriage by the minister of the parish, or, if he should object, by any clergyman entitled and willing to Officiate. Dr Tristram added that many complaints had been made of tho clergy refusing to officiate, or to provide a minister, for the marriage of innocent and successful parties in divorce suits, or even to permit the churches to be used for that purpose. In such cases, he had advised the complaining persons to obtain a mandamus against the clergyman to compel him to open his church; and he had further advised that an action would lie against the clergyman for damages. A more re maskable feature of Dr. Tristram's statement related to what he described as "an organised system of intimidation" to prevent the re-marria^o of divorced peraons. Private detectives are employed to learn when and where such marriages are to take place, and the bride or bridegroom, or their friends, are informed that a protest will be publicly lodged by someone attending the ceremony. Dr. Tristram added that the " nuisance" had become so serious at the London Registry that tie had given orders that no information was to be afforded to strangers, and no access be allowed to papers connected with divorce licenses, without an order from him self.