Those interested in Watch Tower history
have good reason to remember the 1922 Cedar Point, Ohio, convention, which has
its centenary later this year. But for one couple it would have been a very
special memory – it was where they got married.
Below is a page about the convention from
the Sandusky Star-Journal for Sepember 8, 1922.
Homing in on the article we can see that
at least one wedding was planned for the event, with Judge Rutherford billed as
officiating at the ceremony.
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The
groom was Harry Charles Rouse (1891-1940). Harry was born in the Greater London
area in the UK. At the age of 18 in 1909 he signed up for the Territorial Army
in Britain, but it appears that in that same year he went to the United States.
The 1930 census gives 1909 as the date for his arrival in America. At some
point thereafter he became a Bible Student, because when he was called up for
American military service on June 5, 1917, he claimed exemption on the grounds
that he was a member of the International Bible Students Association.
So Charles and Marjorie were married at
the Cedar Point, Ohio, convention and the newspaper noted that Judge Rutherford
officiated. However it also noted that for legal reasons of residency the civil
ceremony had to take place elsewhere. This is why the official marriage
registers show this was taken care of by a Justice of the Peace.
Harry and Marjorie were to have one child,
a daughter, Marjorie Arlene Rouse (1928-2002). Marjorie Arlene was to marry a
George Pratt Bray in 1951.
We do not know if Harry and Marjorie
stayed as Bible Students. In the 1940 census, shortly before he died, Harry’s
occupation is given as a masseur for the YMCA. When the daughter married in
1951 it was in a conventional church.
With thanks to Tom who sent the newspaper and started the trail.
1 comment:
Thanks Jerome for this interesting snippet. Certainly gives a different view to Rutherford, doesn't it? Must admit I have never heard of this before and is certainly a first. Many thanks for the post.
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