Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-15
Guests aud Servants.

The Rev. Or. Armstrong, after the opening
of the doors, delivered this address:
During ministry, now extending through
twenty yesrs, have been called upon to 9TH
ciste st many . wedding of the common kind;
but never before at q golden one. Indeed,
suppose one reason why sucb rite as this
has received the name Of golden" is. that
like the precious metal from which it named
1t 10 of rare occurrence, only here and there
to be met with 10 the mass Of human history.
% ordinary occasions the minister's tttce
10 q very simple and very obvious one. His
Office 10, with the sanctions of religion to
strengthen the bond With which loving hearts
are bound together-snd. from Gods word, to
instruct those comm eDcing q welded life in
the duties and responsibilities Of their new
relation. a
Bot what is the minister's office on such
an occasion as the present? Surely not to
strengthen the bond by which you are united.
The mooring which has resisted the storms
of half q oentury-nevSr parting strand
NAV safely be trusted. And the bare thought
of instructing you is rebuked by the words
of tho "man Of Uz," days should speak,
and multitude of years should teach wis
DOM" Far more appropriate would it be
for the minister, Uncommon with your chill
dren and grandchildren, your friends and
neighbors here assembled to commemorate
this fifthtieth return Of your wedding day, to
ait at YOUR feet and receive instruction from
your lips.
If at 40 ordinary wedding, the "song Of
the Sprinp-time" is that which BELTS the
occasion "the song of tho reapers" will
better harmonic with this. If the words
which beft the one, are like the hearty
"God speed you" which falls upon the ear
of the voyager as "tbe fastenings are cast
leose," the voice most appropriate to the
other is the voice of praise and tbanksgir-
ing, heard when the perils Of the mid-ooesn
are passed, and the language Of the heart
is, "tbe Lord is good to all: and bis ten
der mercies are over all his works" AT
the remembrance of call the way by which
tho Lord your God hath led you, these
fifty years. that he might prove you, and
know what was in your hearts; and as
man chasteneth his SOD, even 30 hath be chas'
tened you; and the msrcies OF the LORD,
the keeper Of Israel, who neither slumoef-
eth or sleepeth, the Lord who bath been
your keeper, the shade upon your right
hand 90 that the sun hath not smitten you
by day, nor the moon by night, the Lord
who hath preserved your going out and
your colnming in" the voice OF thanksgiv-
Jog, is, doubt not, the voice of your hearts.
AZ minister Of religion, aud your Pas.
tor, then, know that shall beet meet your
wishes, as we'll as those of the many loving
hearts around you, if, Instead OF addressing
YOU, lead this assembly in Thanksgiving
70 God, for all his blessings bestowed upon
Won, and on them through you, and 10 pray
or, that the God Of their fathers, may be the
God Of The children also. Then followed the
prayer" "a
As soon as the eloquent divine had con-
cluded the prayer. the family group gathered
around their parents. and the exhibition OF
filial love was beautiful in the extreme. The
guests then offered their congratulations,
and as the revered partners OF half century
received these manifestations OF love aud
respect. their countenances beamsd with
Joy, and it seemed as if their "hesven COM
msncsd ere the world waspas,." This pleas.
ing occasion ended in the epjoyment Of
hospitality worthy of the olden time
There were twelve children and tw en,y-six
grandchildren born 10 the family.
There ara now living seven children, of
whom six we're present; eighteen graDdchil.
dren, Of whom thirteen were present; four chill
dren BY marriage, Of whom four were present.
No one Was present who attended the for
mer Wedding, the only Surviving guests of
that night Judge Ferguson, Of Missouri, and
Mrs. Commodore Elliot, being absent
Mono who witnessed this rare aud touch
ing Golden Wedding can forgstit; and to all,
ths solsu and joyous thought mus. have oc-
CURED thai this happy union Of half cen
tury Was to last through oil time and sserni-
ty.--NortoN ,Argus.
I'D s.sf Dos sa--.