The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-03 00:00:00

THE FIRST CHINESE MARRIAGE IN

AMERICA.

The first Mongolian wedding held in the United
States was celebrated on the 3rd inst. by Bishop Kip,
at San Francisco (says the-St. Louis Globe-Democrat).
The contracting parties were the Rev, Walter Ching
Young and Miss Ah Tim, of Hong Kong. Dr. Young,
whose Chinese name wasA.h Ching, is an Episcopalian
minister, having been received into that Church three
or bar years ago, after years of study in a religious
college in the Eastern States, and after a thorough
examination by the Presbytery. The bride, Miss Ah
Tim, has recently arrived from Hong Kong, and from
childhood upwardhas been trained in the Episcopalian
faith.

Shortly after eleven o'clock, the church being more
than half filled with members of the congregation and
others interested, the Right Rev. Bishop Kip, the
Rev. Dr. Beers, and the Rev. Mr. Loomis took up
their positions at the altar, and waited for the
arrival of the bridal party. Amid the tones of a
portion of the "Wedding March," the Rev. Dr.
Young walked up the aisle, immediately followed by
his bride elect, who was escorted by a Mongolian
lady friend. The reverend doctor was attired in
the clerical garb of his Church, save that his neck-
tie was of a lavender hue, checked with spots.
He is apparently a young man, intelligent, and of
light build. The lady was attired in a gorgeous
array of Chinese garments. Her cloak-like dress
was of a beautiful blue, lined with bright scarlet,
and fringed with gold colour. The nondescript nether
appurtenances of rich brown robes were costly and
pretty. Her head-dress was composed of waving era,
ficial flowers of red and white. The lady is matronly
in appearance, and might be described by society re-
porters as "a quiet brunette of middle age." Follow-
ing these interested parties were some ten or a dozen
ladies connected with the Chinese mission and church.
The marriage was celebrated by Bishop Kip to slow
music. The happy couple bore their blushing honours
with a calmness that. somewhat demoralised the
younger ladies present. A large number of Chinese
were present.
CANADIAN INDEPENDEN CE.

The Ottawa Free Press says:—" A member of the
Dominion Parliament intends next session to make a
move in the direction of Canadian independence, on
the ground that it is desirable that we should elect our
own Chief Magistrate or President. The proposition
for the proposed change was based on economical con-
siderations. It was suggested that the Chief
Magistrate's salary should not exceed £5,000 a-year,
and all salaries over 2,000 dols. reduced 25 per cent.
We live in a hard, practical age, and if the people of
this country were convinced that their material
welfare would be promoted by separation from Eng-
land they would vote for it without hesitation.
Canada has no fear of trouble except through England
being engaged in foreign wars. When the Jingoes
brought England to the verge of war with Russia,
we remember how mysterious vessels hovered on the
Atlantic coast of the Dominion, ready to swoop
down on our defenceless shipping and towns. Had
that war broken out, or were another war to occur, our
shipping would be swept from the ocean, our coasts
devastated, our fisheries destroyed, our insurance and
banking institutions driven into insolvency. How
much better would it be to have our neutrality secured
by wise and timely arrangements! While we will
yield to none in loyalty to the Queen, we are not
blind or insensible to the stronger sentiment of loyalty
to ourselves. Many Englishmen take this common-
sense view of the question, admit the full force of
such reasoning, and are prepared tosrant complete in-
dependence as soon as the peJple of Canada declare in
favour of it."