Gradually, however, the stern Puritanism of the colonists became softened; the prejudice against ecclesiastical rites rapidly subsided; marriages were solemnized even by the Congregational clergy;[399] and soon after the struggle for the charters, laws were enacted allowing the ministers of all denominations to perform the ceremony. Yet, in Rhode Island, it was not until 1733 that the "settled and ordained ministers and elders of every society and denomination of Christians" were permitted to join persons in marriage, the legal fee therefor being fixed at three shillings.[400] By an act of October, 1694, the same privilege was conferred upon the "ordayned ministers of the severall plantations" of Connecticut--in order, says the general court, to satisfy "such as are conscienciously desirous to be" so joined.[401] For Massachusetts a similar statute was passed in 1692, authorizing all "settled ministers" to solemnize marriages, but only in their "respective towns;" while, on the other hand, the authority of the justice of the peace extended throughout the county.[402] The careful limitation of the respective districts of the minister and magistrate was doubtless intended to act as a check upon clandestine unions, as by the more stringent act of 1695. By this statute none may join any persons in marriage who are not inhabitants or residents of the county or town; nor without a proper certificate of due publication and parental consent from the clerks of the towns where the parties respectively dwell. For celebrating a marriage contrary to the act the minister or justice suffers a penalty of fifty pounds and is forever disabled to join persons in marriage, with the added liability of prosecution from the parent or guardian.[403] By several subsequent acts the powers of the clergy are still further enlarged. Thus in 1763 they are empowered to solemnize marriages in "parishes" and "districts" composed of "parts of towns" in "as ample a manner" as in the several towns where they dwell.[404] In 1773 they are allowed to perform the ceremony, not merely within their official districts, but for any whose "ministerial taxes" they are entitled to receive; or if for any cause a parish is without a minister, or if the incumbent himself desires to get married, then the next minister of the same denomination in the town may lawfully act.[405] [Footnote 399: During the Andros period Rev. Charles Morton--who was installed as pastor of the church in Charlestown, Nov. 5, 1686--began to solemnize marriages. He was probably the first Congregational minister in New England who did so. See EDES, _Mem. Hist. of Boston_, II, 315.] [Footnote 400: _Rhode Island Col. Rec._, IV, 490; RIDER, _Supp. Pages to the Digest of 1730_, 258, 259; _Acts and Laws_ (1745), 176. _Cf._ ARNOLD, _Hist. of R. I._, II, 113; GREEN, _Short Hist. of R. I._, 152, 153.]