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Show Retired Congregational Minister Performs thz Ceremony Newport, R. I.. Sept. 9. Col. John Astor and Madeline T Force wero married here this forenoon by Edwin T. Straight, a retired Congregational minister of Providenco. Tho ceremony cere-mony occurred at "Beechwood," the summer home of Colonel Astor in this city. William Force, of New York, the bride's father, gave her away. Mr Straight resigned the pastorate of a small Congregational church in Rhode Island many years ago, and has worked as a carpenter since then, supplementing his wages by whatever fees ho might receive by performing marriage ceremonies. Others present at the ceremony wore'Iiss Katharine Emmons Force, a sister of the bride, and Vincent "Asfor, the son of Colonel' Astor. Beechwood was beautifully decorated decor-ated with flowers fn honor of tho event and the Noma, the steam yacht on which the wedding party made the trip from New York, was a veritable floating flower bower. t The Noma arrived in the harbor between be-tween 7 and S o'clock this morning and Vincent Astor hujjtjed to be the first person on board the yacht He was beaten in the race, however, by Deputy Sheriff Frank P King, who served Col. Astor With a writ of summons, sum-mons, issued by a Providence law firm representing Mrs. Bridget Mc-Crohan Mc-Crohan and her children, in which damages of $30,000 are asked on account ac-count of the accidental electrocution of Mrs. McCrohan's oldest son, Eugene, Eu-gene, while working at Beechwood, In July, 1910. Vincent Astor joined tho party on board the yacht and, after breakfast, Colonel Astor. Mr. Force, the Mlsseu Force and Vincent Aslor came ashore in the Noma's motorboat, Col. Astor handling the steering wheel. The party immediately went in an automobile auto-mobile to the city where the marriage mar-riage license was issued. During the city hall proceedings, which were witnessed by a host of newspaper correspondents, Col. Astor appeared nervous, but Miss Force seemingly was unconcerned. Aftor the city hall formalities had been concluded, the wedding party motored to Beechwood, where Rev, Joseph Lambert of tho Elmwood Temple Tem-ple of Providence, was waiting and performed tho ceremony. Miss Katherine Force was her sister's sis-ter's bridesmaid, and Col Astor's son, Vincent, was the best man. Others present were Mrs. Force, the brlde'6 mother, Mrs Elder, of New York, a friend of the. Force family; former Congressman William P. Sheffield of I this city. Col. Astor's Newport attor-' attor-' ney: William A. Dobbyn, Colonol As-I As-I toi's secretary, and Thomas Hade, who I has been in Col Asto7s employ for many years. Fifteen minutes after he marriage ceremony had been performed, Col. and Mrs. Astor left In an automobile for tho boat landing A few momei"s lstcr they were on board the Noma, which sailed Immediately The destination des-tination of the yacht has been kept secret. Just before leaving Beechwood, Col. Astor gave a statement to the Assocl-j Assocl-j a'ted Press. This statement follows: "Now that we are happily married, I do not care how difficult divorce and re-marriage laws are made. I smpalhize heartily with the most straight-laced people In most of their ideas, but bolievc marriage should be made possible and marriage is tho happiest condition for tho individual and tho community " As the Noma sailed down tho bay her wireless 'operator was kept busy receiving and responding to numerous numer-ous messages of congratulation flashed by Col. Astor's friends. |