Kiss The Bride

Jamestown Press
Jamestown, [Boone County] Indiana
Friday, 6 September, 1901 page 4

Time was when a minister, judge, clerk or squire married a couple the person who officiated invariably kissed the bride and no one objected. Indeed many supposed it to be a part of the ceremony and thought the ceremony incomplete with out it. Gradually the custom has dried out till now it is practiced only by a few ministers and usually they are so ugly no woman will kiss them except when forced to do so, so the following from a Virginia exchange will be of no doubt some interest to both preachers and prospective brides to be. Joseph McDUFF and Miss TALLEY drove to the residence of REV. James PORTER and were married. Rev. PORTER kissed the bride. The next moment McDUFF's fist shot out and caught the minister square on the jaw, scoring a complete knockout. Friends siezed[sic] the angry groom and explained to him that it was custom in that section of the county for the officiating minister to kiss the bride. MC DUFF offered a peace offering two $10 notes, which were accepted by Rev. PORTER.

Transcribed by: Janet Isley Price. "I am posting story for others. I am not related to the subjects."