World's Matrimonial Institute Theophilus CAROLUS

[Jaznjjj]

MAJM, just checking you received my response to your PM via email?  Just making sure it landed.   J

Theophilus Carolus is an interesting character, yes? 

[majm]

Hi,

Yes, thanks, I received emails Sunday evening, including the one where you mention another trip planned to Mitchell Library with camera.  I know very little about iPhones but umm my mobile does is very difficult to master when it comes to downloading photos.   

Theo Carolus is very intriguing. - very very very intriguing.

ADD
So I have 3 images and one word doc. 

Cheers,  JM 

[Jaznjjj]

I'll email the whole series of images from yesterday.  Always tricky photographing in less than ideal conditions. I can't guarantee how clear some of them will be but hopefully with both lots of images we will eventually have the whole sequence.  Getting the SL to scan and copy is expensive - plus they do not seem particularly eager to do it (which I can understand). 

The issue with my iPhone was that I had to email the images to myself, and could only send a small number at a time - then had to download them etc.

See you in an email.  J

[majm]

Many thanks,  all present and correct,  including of course, the wonderful Trim.

JM

[Jaznjjj]

I can't go to the State Library without visiting Trim!    J

[Catherine61]

How wonderful is Rootschat, that I can find lots more on Theophilus Carolus, 5 years after this original post. Thank you
And to add to the mystery of the workings of the World Matrimonial Agency, 471 Pitt St, Sydney, my great grandparents John Fahey (50) and Amy Elizabeth Dale (32) (both single) were married there 23 July 1900. He Catholic, she Protestant. He from Reids Flat (Boorowa), she from Woollahra. By this stage they had 4 children, only 1 registered as 'Unknown DALE'.
Presiding over the marriage was Seraphim Phocas (Greek Orthodox Priest), Witnesses Theophilus CAROLUS and Joice JONES.
The Agency seems the only place these two could be joined as husband and wife, given the complexity of their life together thus far!

[Jaznjjj]

So glad the information helps you.  It looks like it helped those who could not, or chose not to, use normal channels.  I visited the State Library and they copied for me a booklet that Theo had published.  Nothing of astounding interest in it but good to see how he advertised his services, 

[jaybak]

What an informative thread! 

My great grandmother was divorced and was remarrying a Roman Catholic so the Matrimonial Institute was a good solution for them. Their 1900 marriage is witnessed by Edith Carolus and Joice Jones. Minister George Hay

Trove is a fantastic resource https://www.change.org/p/fully-fund-trove

[Bergman]

My great-grandparents were married at 471 Pitt St, Sydney, 4th May, 1901. I'd always wondered why they had chosen the "Reorganised  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" when they were both of the Church of England faith.
Perhaps because they had a daughter already, and another due in four months, they needed to choose a less 'traditional' venue.
Witnesses were: Edith Carolus, Joice Jones
Minister was: John Kaler.
My great-grandfather didn't take his vows too seriously. In 1902, he married again in South Africa, and a few years later brought his new family back to Sydney to live reasonably close to his first family. Therein lies another mystery to unravel, as the family either didn't know or just never spoke about the first marriage, and we were led to believe another man was our great-grandfather. A man my great-grandmother lived with, but never married.