Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-07-03
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A Quaker Wedding.

MARMEp, in this city, at the Quaker Westinghouse, on
Fifth street, Mr. HENRY SHIRLEY, of this city, to Miss
HANNAH D. TArLoH, of Newport.
A large company assembled at the unos-
tentatious church of the Society of Friends
yesterday at eleven o'clock, 10 witness so
unusual an occurrence as a Quaker wedding.
As the spirit moved us to be present, we
propose TO give description of the cere-
mony. 1t was regular monthly meeting
of the Friends, a small, though highly re-
spectacle society, worshipping regularly at
the house above mentioned. When we
arrived, the house was nearly filled with
young ladies', who had been attracted there
by curiosity, their gay dresses contrasting
strongly with the sober drab of the three or
four rows of Quaker ladies occupying seats
on the opposite Of the house, and fronting
the main audience. The shad-belies and
broad-brims slipped quietly into the seats
in the mems division of the house, and COM
menced their silent communion with their
own spirits and the spirits OF the unseen
world. Alter half hours profound silence
there was some appearance Of uneasiness
among the spectators. We were amused
at whispered conversation between a coun-
try girl and her more knowing city compan-
ion.-
What do these women wear such awful
looking bonnets for? They look like half
hornets nests, half coal-scuttle."
Hush that's their fashion,"
Where is the pulpit?" said the first
mentioned.
"The Quakers have no pulpits"
Where is the minister? 2"
"They have no minister"
Who breaches, then 2"
All of them, or any of them, Just as
they happen to feel"
Why don't the meeting begin 2"
Hush up! the meeting has been begun
this half hour"
Why, nobody has said word, and
those men opposite have got their hats on"
Never mind, somebody will speak soon,
provided the spirit moves them, and they
always wear their hats at church"
ION, l know; they are waiting for the
bride and groom"
No, indeed they have been here half
an hour; don't you see them sitting direct.
ly opposite that handsome young man in
gold specs and the lady beside him, dress.
ed in plain white satin"
want to know if that's them; they
don't look Quakeri8h bit. | should like
to know who's going to marry them!
Nobody; they'll marry themselves"
Marry themselves well, why in the
world don't they begin? What are the,
waiting for?
Waiting for the spirit to move"
Another half hour was passed in sol
emn silence, at the end of which time the
bride and bridegroom rose, facing the au
dlence, the bridegroom pronouncing the
following words -
!, III the presence of God and this as
semby, take this woman to be my welded
wife, promising, with divine assistance. tc
be her faithful, loving husband, as long as
we both shall live"
The bride then, in voice somewhat fall
terlng, repeated similar declaration. and
both sat down.
Two young men of the Society then
placed before them small table containing
huge parchment scroll, which they open.
ed, and in presence of the assembly the
pride and groom affixed their signatures.
AN elder OF the church then read the doc.
ument aloud to the audience. II set forth
mat the parties had, at the regular MONTH,
meeting preceding, sgnifed their intention
OF marriage, that the Society had approved
o. the same, and that, by their Joint deca
ratlons and signatures, they had arrived a
a luil accomplishment of their intentions
lie then stated that all the friends were re-
qees'ed to sign as witnesses after the close
Of the meeting. ' O''''