Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-07-16
From the Cincinnati Nonpareil.
A QUAKER WEDDING.

A QUAKER WEDDING.
Married, in this city, yesterday, at the
Quaker meeting house, on Flf.h-steet, Mr.
HENRY SHIPLEY, Of this city, to Miss HAM
,NAH D. TAYLOR, Of Newport.
a large company assembled at the unos-
tenta,ious church of the Society of Friends
yesterday, at eleven O'Clock, 10 witness sc
unusual an occurrence as Quaker wedding
As the spirit moved us TO be present, we
propose to give description of the cere'
mony. 1t was a regular monthly meeting
of the Friends, small, though highly res,
pected, society worshipping regularly at the
house above mentioned. When we arrived
the church was nearly filled with young
ladies, who bad been attracted there by Gu
riosity, their gay dresses contrasting strong
ly with the sober drab Of the three or fou
rows of Quaker ladies occupying seats or
the opposite side of the house, and fronting
the main audience. The shad-bellies and
broad-brims slipped quietly into the seats
IN the mems division Of the house, and COM
menced their silent communion with theil
own spirits and the spirits Of the unseen
world. After halfhour's profound silence
there was same appearance of uneaslnes:
among the spectators. We were amused a.
whispered conversation between coun-
try girl and her more knowing city COM
panion.
"What do these women wear such awful
Hooking bone,s for? They look like hall
hornets nests half coal-scut.le.''
s'IIush that's the Quaker fashion,
"Where is the pulpi. :" said the first men,
toned.
''The Quaisers have no pulpiss."
| 'sWhere is their minister :"
''They have no minister"
"Who breaches then -
Gall of them, or any of them, just as they
happen to feel"
"Why don't the meeting begin -
"Ilush 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,
f:provided the spiri, moves them, and they
always wear their hats in church."
90, know; they are waiting for the bride
and groom"
"No, indeed; they have been here hall
an hour, don't you see them sitting directly
iorposile; ,ha, handsome young man in gold
specs and The lady beside him, dressed in
plain white sa,ln.''
81 want 10 know if that's them; they dome
look Quakerish bit. ] should like TO know
who's going TO marry them -
IN obody they'll marry themselves.''
"Marry themselves well, why in the
world don't they begin :? What are they
waiting for -
"Wailing for the spirit to move'
Another half hour was passed in solemn
silence, at the end Of which time the bride
and bridegroom rose facing the audience,
the bridegroom pronouncing The following
words:
81. in the presence Of God, and of this as
sembly, take this woman to be my welded
wife, promising, with Divine assistance, TO
be to her faithful and loving husband, as
long as we boil, shall live"
| The bride then in voice somewhat fal-
tering, repeated a SIMILAR declaration, and
both sat down.
Two young men Of the society then
placed before them a small table containing
a huge parchment scroll, which they open
ed, and in presence Of the assembly the
bride and groom affixed their SIGNATURES
| An elder of the church then read the docu-
ment aloud to the audience. 1t set forth
that the parties had a. the regular monthly
meeting preceding, signilied their intention
of marriage, tina. the society had approved
the same, and that by their join, declarations
and signatures they had arrived at "ful
accomplishment of their Intentions" lie
then stated that all the friends were invited
to sign as witnesses after the close Of the
meeting.
After a few minutes more of silence the
newly married couple suddenly rose ant
left the church, and were followed by the
whole congregation. The audience wa:
we'll pleased with the ceremony which we
think was the most sensible we ever wit
messed.