The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-12-05
A QUAKER WEDDING.

4 Quaker wedding is 4 novelty to the
worlds people, and as such we present our
readers with detailed description of one
which recently took place in the town of
Harrison, Westminster county, New York :
Last Tuesday evening, at the residence
Of Frierd John Seman, i'll Harrison, Mr..
Eugene V. Lorton, of this city, married
himself to Miss Amy r. Mosher, of Green
witch, Conn. The relatives of the young
Friends who were to be married came to-
gether from all parts of the compass. even
from the towns Of New Jersey, the hills of
Orange county, the city of New York,
New England, and Westminster county
There was plentiful sprinkling of the
worlds people too-young ladies in Ponp-
adour waists, and young men in swallow
tailed coats and fancy neckties. But to all
intents and purposes the wedding was Of
Quaker origin, conduct, and conclusion.
Arriving at the mansion, the guests were
ushcrcd into the parlors, where bright fires
of wood were blazing in the great open
fireplace. The young people assembled in
the back parlor, while the near relatives
and aged Friends were comfortably seated
in the front parlor. The Seman family is
remarkable for the size of it's aged men and
women, and as it is 4 long-lived family,
many grey-headed folks were present
Many of the men were almost gigantic in
stature, with broad chests, and rotundity
which would well become an alderman. In
strength of constitution and development
of physique, the women were fully equal
1.-the and petite city bellies of the present
day, seemed to he Of another generation.
The ceremony was to take place at eight
o'clock i'll the evening. The Friends, in
their peculiar and weli-known costumes.
were seated in the front parlor, i'll solemn
silence. The gentlemen were, for the
most part, dressed in black, with white
ncckties, while the ladies wore small lace
caps with little peaked crowns, and
lace under handkerchiefs. The prevailing
colors of their dresses were brown, deep,
rich mulberry, and black. Whenever a
Friend entered the room, he OF she shook
hands with each one present, saluting them
by their given names.
Beneath the mirror in the front parlor a
sofa had been placed for the bride and
groom, and upon either side were chairs
for the best man and woman. The friends
and relatives being assembled, the best
man and woman entered the back parlor,
followed by the bridal pair. They walked
the entire length of the parlors, and amid
profound silence took the seats designed
for them. For about five minutes, during
which silent prayer is supposed to have
been offered, no one spoke or moved. The
bride sat like a statue, with downcast eyes,
but blushing perceptibly. The whole
scene appeared more like a tableaux than
an ordinary wedding ceremony. After
enduring the silence as long as seemed
desirable, the bridegroom and bride arose,
taking each other by the right hand, when
the bridegroom said:
"In the presence of the Lord and these
people, take thee, Amy, to be my wife,
promising, by the Divine assistance, to be
unto thee a loving and faithful husband
until death doth part u.s."
Then Amy said the same words to Eu-
gene, stumbling a little at the word "hus
band" At the conclusion of this part of
the ceremony the company was again seat
ed, and silence reigned profound. The
bride was dressed after the ordinary fash
ion, in a white cashmere, en- train, trimmed
with white satin, pompadour waist, lace
underwaist, veil, ornage flowers ETC., etc.
During the silence succeeding the cere-
mony an opportunity was offered for any
of the Friends to address the couple if the
spirit moved. After waiting for some time
quiet, motherly looking lady made the
following ejaculation
"This is indeed a very solemn ceremony,
and we all need the Divine assistance il
living up to its requirements.
Another period of silence, and the bride
groom arose and kissed the bride, where
upon the best man and woman did the
same thing.