A MOCK MARRIAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20451, 4 July 1928, Page 8

A MOCK MARRIAGE.

FILM ACTORS REBUFFED. MINISTER’S PROMPT ACTION. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, July 3. A number of Auckland film actors engaged in making a moving picture with a naval setting received a rebuff yesterday when they attempted to stage a marriage ceremony at the Devonport Presbyterian Church. Permission to use the church in the picture had been previously obtained, but when the wedding procession arrived at the gate, together with about 300 curious spectators, and a party of bluejackets, who were to pull the carriage bearing the bride, Miss Dale Austen, and the bridegroom, Mr Cecil Scott, entry to the church grounds was barred by the minister (the Rev. Lawson Marsh), who forbade the use of the church on the ground that the film company had taken advantage of his permission by advertising the ceremony for amusement purposes. Mr Marsh stated subsequently that he had been asked to grant permission for the church to be usea for the film ceremony which, it stated, had the approval of the naval authorities. Those making the request had given as their reason for wishing to use the building that it was the most picturesque church in Auckland, and in the circumstances he saw no reason for disobliging them. He was amazed, however, when a large crowd of sightseers congregated, and he learned for the first time that the event had been advertised in the newspapers as “ mock marriage at Devonport Presbyterian Church.” Such advertising tended to destroy the sanctity of th© church, and he had no hesitation in forbidding the scene to be taken.