THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By His Excellency

PAUL A. DEVER
GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13

    WHEREAS, the provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 207, section 38, restrict
the solemnization of marriages by clergymen to those residing in the Commonwealth or to
certain limited classes of non-resident clergymen; and

    WHEREAS, under the provisions of section 39 of said Chapter 207 the Governor may, in
his descretion, designate a non-resident clergyman to solemnize a specified marriage; and

    WHEREAS, the military and naval authorities of the government of the United States, 
in order to reduce expense and inconvenience to members of the armed forces, and to promote
and maintain the present high morale of troops expecting to depart for foreign shores, have
requested that some provision be made in order that unnecessary delay may be avoided for 
those in the armed forces who have arranged to be married; and

    WHEREAS, it frequently happens that the contracting parties to a marriage earnestly
desire that it be solemnized by a chaplain of the armed forces,
 
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, Paul A. Dever, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, acting under the provisions of the Acts of 1950, Chapter 639 and all other authority vested
in me, do hereby issue this order as a necessary and expedient step.

    Persons, both resident and non-resident in this Commonwealth, who are serving as chap-
lains with the armed forces of the United States within the geographical limits of this Com-
monwealth, may solemnize marriages therin, provided that at least one of the parties to any
such marriage is, at the time thereof, a member of the armed forces of the United States.

    The provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 207, shall be applicable to said chaplains
and to marriages performed by them pursuant to the provisions of this order, except in so far
as said provisions may be inconsistent with the terms of this order.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this thirtieth day of June,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-one, and 
of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred
and seventy-fifth.

By His Excellency the Governor,
PAUL A. DEVER

EDWARD J. CRONIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS