Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-21


A quaker wedding is a novelty TO the
worlds people, and as such we present our
readers with detailed description Of one
which recently took place in the enterpris-
ing town of Harrison, Weschester county.
In spite of the persecution which the Qua
kers suffered in early time at the hands OF
the Puritans, New England and the border
land still retains many Of them, who
exactly resemble their ancestors In every
particular save that they have larger and
better filed purses. But there is the same
simplicity of press, language and manners,
= and when a young Friend marries young
' Friend (less?) maiden, he does 1t IN the
simple style which prevails among Friends
and Quakers. 10 other words, he
MARRIEs HIMSELF.
Last Tuesday evening at the residence
of Friend John Seman, in Harrison,
Westchester county, Mr.. Eugene v Lor-
ion, Of this city, married himself to Miss
AMY T. Mosher Of Greenwich, CT. Be
il known to all our readers, then, that this
was a regular, od-fashiOned, democratic,
New England Quaker wedding, which
took place at grandiather's great square
country house, in the midst Of all the re-
lations on both sides, from the Oldest grand
parent to the youngest baby with lis thumb
In its mouth The relatives OF The young
friends who were to be married came to-
gether from all paris Of the compass, even
from the town OF New Jersey, the hllls OF
Orange county, the city Of New York, Ne"
England and Westchester county. Some
of the wealthy and highly respectable
broadbrims from this city dignItied the
occasion with their presence, accompanied
by their wives in new lace cape, white silk
half handkerchief shawls, and the plalnest
and thickest Of silk DRESSES There was "a
plentiful sprinkliug of the worlds people,
too-youny ladies 10 Pompadour waists,
and Young men in swallow tailed coats and
fancy neck-ties. But to all intents and
purposes the wedding was Of Quaker origin,
conduct and conclusion.
During the day Of Tuesday, guests were
arriving upon every train, leaving the cars
at Port sChe,tsr. Coaches and carriages
were al the depot TO coAvey them to the
house, some four or i've miles distant, ana
one four-in. hand team was loaded down
with something like a score OF men and
women. Grandfather Seman came down
TO the station in his family carriage for the
special accommodation Of some particular
friends from the metropolis. Such heaps
of boxes, trunks and travelling bags, with
nuraes dressing maids and babies, was
sight to behold.
Arriving at the mansion, the guests
were ushered into the parlOr5, where bright
fires of wood we're blazing in the great
open fre-places. A scene fit 10 fill Donald
q. Mitchell with Joy aud call up a thou
sand memories of childhood in the breasts
Of all who had ever sat before the cheerful
blaze and cracking logs. The young PEG.
Die assembled in the back parlOr, while
the near relatives and aged friends were
comfortably seated in the front p2rlor. The
Seman family is remarkable for the size OF
its aged men and women, and as it z long
lived family, many gray-headed folks we're
present. Many Of the men were almost
gigantic in stature, with broad chests and
a rotundily which would well become an
alderman. In strength of constitution and
DEVELOPMENT of physique, the women were
fully equal 10 the men, and when contrasted
with the 1.-THE and petite city bellies Of the
preseut dav, seemed to be of another gen.
Grafton. The past and the present, the
old and the new, the outgoing and the in
coming, met and shook hands at this we'd
ding. II will be long time before we ever
shall behold such a sight again, and We
must say the passing-away people were
superior in many respects TO the ln-com-
ing.
The ceremony was to take place at 8
o'clock in the evening. Long before that
hour the parlors were crowded with the
exception Of passage way left through the
center of each The Friends, in their
peculiar and well known costumes, were
seated in the front parlor, in solemn silence
The gentlemen we're, for the most part
dressed in black and white neckties while
the ladies wore small lace caps with little
peaked crowns, and lace under.handker'
chiefs. The prevailing cOlors of theil
dresses were brown, a deep, rich mulberry
and black Whenever friend entered the
room he or she shook hands with eaci
one present, saluting them by their giver
names.
THE MARRIAGE.
Beneath the mirror, in the front parlor
a sofa had been placed for the bride AM
groom, and upon either side were chair
for the best man and woman. The friend
and relatives being assembled, the bes
man and woman entered the back parlOr
followed by the bridal pair. They wake
the entire length of the paTlors, and ami
a profound silence took the seats designe
for them. For about FIVE minutes, durin
which a silent prayer is supposed to hav
been offered, 10 one spoke or moved. Ih
bride eat like statue, with downCsst eye
but blushing perceptibly. The whole seer
appeared more like tablesuthsn an ordiI
ary wedding ceremony. After endurin
The silence as long as seemed desirable, To
Bridegroom and bride arose, taking til
right hand, when the bridegroom said:
an the presence Of the Lord, and the
people. take thee, Amy, to be my wifi
promising by the Divine assistance 10
unto thee loving and faithful husban
until death doth part Us"
Then ANY said the same words 10 h
rene. Stumbling little at the word "hu
band Al ihe conclusion Of this part
the ceremony the company was again sea
ed, and silence reigned profound. III
bride was dressed after the ordinary fashiO
in white cashmere, en- tram, trimmed wi
white satin, pampadour waist, lace upde
wsisi, veil orange lowers
DuriRg the silence succeeding the Ger
monv an opportunity was offered for any
the Friends to address the people if {
spirit moved. After waiting for sometin
a quiet, motherly looking lady made {
fullowing ejaculation;
This Ia indeed a very solemn Cereu
nv, and We sll reed the Divine assistaI
in living up TO it's requirements
Another period Of silence and the bri,
groom arose and kissed the bride, Whe
upon the bCst man aud woman did
same :hing.
SIGNING THE CONTRACT.
At tbs stsge of the proceedings,
best msn, with al assistant, brought a SIN
table into the room, upon which wer
marriage certificate ia the shape 0
sci6ll, zen "a, an ink.tand, and place,
IN front OF the bridegroom, He sigI
his name To the contract, and the bride
sumed for The fret time the name Of
husband. Immediately after the sig
lures had been affixed to tie documen
gentleman took the certificate and rea
aloud 10 the company as follows:
WhCreas Eugene, ofthe city and cou
and State Of New York lson of -
-, his Wife, and Amy daughter Of
and -, his wife, Of Greenwich, F
field county, State OF Connecticut, hay
declared their intention Of marriage '
each other, and having obtained the
cent Of IheIr parents;
Now these are to certify whom il
concern, that for the full aCcQmplishn
of their said Intentions this tenth ds
The eleventh month of the year of
Lord, ore thousand eight hundred