Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-01

tion. The marriage robe was of white silk czsb
mere finish, which is a new style of tlk. and
soft and rich. The long train WAS
shirred from the waist az the bac' and trim
med with deep hounce arouJ A tha hottorn
which was edged with satin an misses oC crenf,
lisse. The front had TsreTS o. satin ed 9ed w.rb
crepe lisse plisses, beneath which was a dseD
COX COX Ilea.pg Oh Ihe sa IN and two narrow
trsiled ever the skirt. at the side and hack,
The basque was blP' 4 at the back and Oman in
front, with Bog 81 de- corsage. The sleeves
were only 10 the >lbovy and finished with knife
pleatirgs of or .,e Tisss. The Vel was Of nm
sion. and fell 'Jver the face and then swept back
so tDat lt en- rely enveloped the person, Flow
eIs were 'In on the heau beneath the veil. Her
OfnameI q were pearls, a gift from her mother.
MT. och wore full dress uniform, as did all
hls s.fenGants except the two civilians, Mr..
Sherman and CALVIN. Miss Lizzie Sherman
wore an exquisite dress of white silk. with puff
inCs OF katie pleatings OF white silk gauze.
Pink aZaHaS and roses in fine wreaths trimmed
this dress. -Four Of the bridesmaids wore
Miss Ellie ShermaDs dress wore lovely
morning glcries and hsrebells. Miss Phillips
of Cincinnati, Is handsome brunette. Her
dress OF white SILK, with trimmings OF narrow
striped chambery gsuze, Illusion, ami SPRAYS
OF flowers, was as perfect AMI artistic as the
piqusbt young lady. Miss Bessie Smith, daugh-
ter OF the gallant General i. Kilby Smith, for
merry of Ohio, when iD.ordinary dress, looks
very Die Vernon. In pure white silk, with lace
and flowers, she looked like a picture. Miss
Of exquisite taste in dress, and OF great wealth.
The front of her white silk was fairly covered
with sprays OF pink flowers, so fine and natural
that they locked az though plucked fresh from
the garden. Miss Marcy, daughter of General
Randolph Marcy, was third bridesmaid, and
wore a dress which was both handsome and be-
coming. Miss Ewing and Miss BARLEY, nieces
OF General and Mrs. Sherman, manifested their
gOGd taste in the arrangement of their lovely
toilettes. AS it was not obligatory for all the
bridesmaids to have fac simile dresses, the
latitude allowed was improved by the variety
which could he shown in white silk, with trim
miDgs OF white. All the bridesmaids wore wells
OF illusion. The scene at the altar was a beau
tful subject tor an artist, and should be COM
meDOrated.
The bridesmaids veis gracefully adorned
their heads, but were not worn over the face.
The first bridesmaid lifted the brides veil as
she received the holy eucharist. A II the clergy
advanced with the archbishop as he offered the
communion 10 the bride. The music was mag
nihcent, the choir comprising Messrs. l.. r.
Mrs. H. g. Sherman.
Miss Sherman was certainly blessed with the
arrest weather that nature could bestOw. This
fine weather drew out the largest crowd on the
streets and in the vicinity OF the church that
vas ever seen in Washington. Within the
church perfect order and quiet reigned.
Promptly ST IL q. m. the bridal party entered
Mr. Fitch received his bride with a graceful
bow; her father gallaDtly returning it as he
gave his child into the young mans keeping
The Archbishop prefaced the marriage servic &c
with q short address, as follows
REMAINS OF ARCHBISHOP PURCELL.
do not know that a marriage ceremony has
ever been performed in these United States
under more Interesting circumstances than the
one we are assembled row to sOlemniZs. There
il rare combination of circumstances in all
these Surroundings that have not. | believe, 10
these United States, been witnessed before. YOu
have among the audience, believe, the Prcsi-
dent Of the greatest republic; the greatest na-
ton of the times, who comes by his presence to
manifest the interest he takes in the bridal
party. We have here, in the father OF the
bride, one Of the greatest captains OF any age.
one Of the most devoted patriots; one OF Tn.
most gallant and able Of al those generals to
whom the fate of armies and OF nations has
ever been entrusted. We have other great
generals and dOffiCers here, the like OF whom have
LevtT been assembled on the occasion of a mar
riage ceremony before: and we all when We
look on them, behCd in them the glorious de-
tenders of these United States; III IN who 1t ths
head OF gallant armies have gained the admira-
Ton and respect OF all the ether nations Of tde
EOTid.
Now, the Apostle tails you that there is no
other form Of marriage than that Instituted By
Christ Thus marriage was ordained in
Heaven; matches are made in Heaven; and
when The marriage union i rGnsummatsd under
such auspices as we behold to-day we have
reason TO believe that God Will extend his own
night hand from the heights OF Heaven and
bless the young couple.
You al here to-day have come no. from
any IDLE Curiosity, but YOU come to
N4lu6SS lLis CPrt IlGny, ana 70 manifest the IN
teT6st you take in those who are now about TO
plight their VOWS 10 one another. We pray GOD
that their marriage may be auspiciOls; that
the II dsys may be long and happy i'll the land
and that they may live TO see their children aud
their Children's children unto the third and
fourth generation. When | think of the grand
rather OF the bride-Mr EwiDR-he who gave
such pure example TO all his children; when T
think OF the grandmother of the bride, whom /
saw laid out in death, when she looked more
LIKE bride than corpse, so beautiful was her
appearance; when remember how her noble
husband walked into the room and g8Zed
upon that lovely form, having the raD-
u aTance more CT life than death. and walked
back again TO take still another gaze at all
that was left or the wonderful woman, Mrs.
Ewing; when ! Think of all this ii seems as il |
see those blessed souls looking down ,from
Heaven upon the scene that is now sprea1 out
before US, invoking GODS blessing.
Marriage is essentially religious ceremony.
IL is not a mere human or civil contract. No,
beloved friends. Other marriages may be of the
earth, eaIthy; but a marriage like this is of
Heaven, heavenly. God bestowed his blessing
at the tTst marriage, upon the first couple, aud
pronounced their union good. He blessed the
marriages OF the patriarcbs; and the blessings
that He gave TO them were prOphesies that were
fulfilled TO the letter. On the occasion OF
another recorded marriage, God sent an angel
from Heaven to prepare the young couple for
their wedding; the angel travelled With them;
the angel protected them the night of their
marriage, and brought them back in safety to
their friends. And this, again, shO ws how God
NHNI
rite-s mere civil contract but q marriage
made in accordance with Gods holy purpose.
Mary, the neither Of Jesus, was present at the
WEDDING of Cana in Gslilee, Gnd Christ's disci-
pies and apostles were also there. IL was at
that wedding that Christ wrought his first mira
Gle by turning the water into wine. Thus we see
what sacred thing marriage is and what are
lis dutes. Hence, yOu are thOrOu ghly in
structed in the nature OF the ceremony which
Is to be performed before you. And am ex-
ceedingly pleased 10 see the great respect for
the house Of God; respect for His Excellency,
the President; respect for the parents of the
bride. and the friends OF the bridegroom, which
thls large congregation show in the good order,
guietness, and the prophecies that have been
observed. congratulate you on ii. 1t is not
IKE other marriages we have seen, bat it il a
marriage which shows that the ceremony il a
Holy one; one over which God is expected to
preside, and which God is expected to bless
My friends, L shall not detain you any
longer; nor delay further in bestoWIng the
blessing Of Almighty God on the bride and
bridegroom, the bridesmaids and their friends,
When marriage is contracted lightly irreyer-
emily, then Gods blessing is not realized, and
marriage fails of its high mission, and society
becomes loser; but when, as in this case, the
marriage ceremony is properly respected; prop
erly conducted, and Gods blessing rests on the
sardes, then Gil is well, and society becomes
the gamer. Would to God all marriages were
sole mnized in this manner. Here are the bride
groom and bride just about to seal their vows
with the body ard blood OF Christ. Was there