The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-06
WISHING TO BE MARRIED.

The latest innovation in the usage and custom
of the Established Church of Scotland is the cee-
braton of marriage at the church, instead of pri-
vatey at the residence of the parties, the former
mode, it is alleged, being in conformity with the
directory of public worship and the ancient
practice of the Presbyterian Church. Apropos
of this innovation may be related the following
incident:
The afternoon services had ended, and the con-
gregation were arranging themselves for the beno-
dicton, when, to the manifest interest ofthe wor-
shippers, the good parson descended from the
pulpit to the desk below, anc said in a calm clear
voice:
"Those wishing to be united in the holy bonds
of matrimony will now please come forward"
A deep stiffness instantly fell over the congre-
cation, broken only by the rustling of silk, as
some pretty girl or excited matron changed her
position to catch the fist view of the couple to be
married. No one, however, arose, or seemed
inclined to rise. Whereupon the worthy clergy
man, deeming the first notice unheard ersmisun-
derstood, repeated:
"Let those wishing to be united in the holy
bonds of matrimony now come forward"
| Still no one stirred. The silence became almost
audible, and painful sense of awkwardness
among those present was felt, when young gen.
| tleman who occupied vacant seat in the broad
aisle during the service, slowly arose, and delib-
| erately walked to the foot of the altar. He was
good looking and we'll dressed, but no female &C
companied his travels. When he arrived within
respectable distance Of the clergyman, he paused
with reverend bow, stepped to one side of the
aisle, but neither said anything nor seemed at all
disconnected at the idea Of being married alone.
The clergyman locked anxiously around for
the bride, who, he supposed, was yet to arrive,
and at length remarked to the young gentleman
in an undertone: a
"The lady sir, is dilatory."
ayes, sir"
"Had you not better defer the ceremonyl q"
81 think not"
"Do you suppose she will be here soon? 2"
"Me, SIR" said the young gentleman, chow
should know of the lady movements Z"
few moments more were suffered to elapse
in this unpleasant state of expectancy, when the
clergyman renewed his interrogatories:
"Did the lady promise to attend at the present
hour, sir?''
"What lady9"
"Why the lady. to be sure, that you are watt
ing here for"
Il did not hear her say anything about it." was
the unsatisfactory answer.
"Then, sir, may | ask you why you are here,
and for what purpose you thus trife in the sane
tuary of the Most High Z" said the somewhat
enraged clerical.
a came, sir, simply because you invited all
those a0ishing to be united in the holy bonds of
matrimony to step forward; and happened to
entertain such wish. l am very sorry to
have misunderstood you, and wish you very
good day"
The benediction was uttered with the solem-
nifty of tone very little in accordance with the
twitching of the facial nerves, and when, after
the church was closed, the story got amongst the
congregation, more than one girl regretted that
the young gentleman who really wished to be
united in the holy bonds of matrimony, had been
obliged to depart without wife.-Londonderry
Standard