The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-26
a Quaker weddins--Bcnutirn Brid
and Interesting Ceremony.


A correspondent of the Richmond
Dispatch, writing from London county,
Va, gives the following interesting ac-
count of quaker wedding in that sec
ton:
Much of our population consists OF
that class known rs "CluakerS. In
their mode of worship, manner of dress,
and many other customs, they ditfer in
their denominations, but more partic-
ularly in the matter of marriages. 1
attended one of tnese, by invitation,
last Thursday, and will endeavor, as
nearly as / can, to give you an accurate
account of the proceeding. The parties
proposing matrimony are required TO
hand in their "intentions"t to business
meeting at least one month before the
time appointed for the wedding, This
meeting appoints committee to in
uuire into the propriety of the match
and report ut the next meeting. If the
report is favorable. c., ii nothing
which they consider an obstacle is pre-
sented-the parents or guardian of the
Young lady give their consent to the
union. One peculiarity of marringe
among the members of society is, that
by its rules the ceremony shall take
place during the day; none are ever
married after nightf;ill.
In the case of the one OF which we
are writing, all the preliminaries hav-
ing been settled, the parties repaired TO
the residence of the brides father,
where the ceremony was TO take place,
and found the house already well filled
for their circle of acquaintance was
very large. The bridegroom is one of
our most energetic and enterprising
citizens; frank, free, and joyous, ne IS
always the lie of every party OF which
he forms part. The bride is the
Youngest daughter of one of the oldest
and most hOnored OF our citizens. AL
wavs bright and beautiful, she was
doubtless so on this occasion. Dressed
in the purest white, emblematic OF her
spotleSs character, with no ornaments
save those supplied by nature, she walk
ed in with the bridal party and look
the seats prepared for them
Aftera short season of silence, the
bride and groom, with their walters
rise to their feet, and the gentleman, in
clear and distinct voice, repeats the
vow which is prescribed by the disclp-
line: "In the presence of the Lord and
before this assembly take Il. j. to be
nv wife, promising, with divine as
sistance, to be unto her loving and
faithful husband until death shall sep
arate us.n And Immediately following
him, the lady in a soft and tremulous
voice, but still loud enough to be audi
bic to all within the room, repeated her
portion of the vow: SIN the presence oil
| the Lord and before this assembly l
take w B. to be my husband, promis-
ing with divine assistance, to be
unto him loving and faithful
wife until death shall separate u.s."
This was followed by signing the mar,
riage certificate by the newly married
couple, and large number of those
present, nearly one hundred, as wit
nessess. The marriage ceremony, was
now completed, these twain have been
made one, and the company dispersed
over the different rooms TO enjoy as best
suits their fancy. But as before said,
a committee of older Friends is always
on hand to see that everything is CON
Quoted properly and in good order.
Their presence, however, causes but
little restraint upon the younger mem
bers. of the party, for these-old, stale
and solemn as they appear-are many
of them full of fun and pleasure, and
enjoy pastime of this sort as much as
those who are younger, and more gwen
toparties, frolics, &c. srrr
.