The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-07
THE QUAKER RULE or MARRIlG r..
A Change In the Old Cnstom-J ohm Bright Mt
Wedding breakfast.

A marriage was yesterday celebrated at
the Friends Meeting House, ST. Martins lane,
between MIR. Theodore Harris, banker, leighton
Buzztrd, member OF the Society OF Friends,
anu his, Gertrude l.. Russell. d lighter Of Lord
Charles Russell, ma a communic- mt OF the
Lord Charles Russ,li, Lord and Lady Arthur
RUSSELL Major and Mrs. Wyn4ham, the Hon. A.
knuaird, NJ. T.. the Right Hon. John BRIGHT,
NJ. T.. Mr.. lsnlo Fletcher. N. 4. (orOther-in-law
Of tho biidegrogml, Mr.. ana Mrs. H. Harris,
Mr. T.; H.. lSo.. /. T. s., Miss Harris. and Miss
j, NJ. Iylor. The rule, Of the Society Of Friends
have been recently relaxed in orderto allow Of
what are calicl NAKED marriages being solemn
tied at meeting houses VI the Society Of Friends
The peculiarly OF Tue marriage ceremony Is
that no minister or officer iuterieres. The n
rltge vow Is Iepeh'ed ny the orlae ana pride'
groom standing up after short interval Of ST.
lonce, In front Of the congregation. A ring was
on this OCCASION put on after the actual cere-
mony was finished, IN difference 10 ancient GUS
tom which the rules ~ the society have not
been strong enough to break through. A GER
tihcatc, record ing the actual words used by the
newly-married couple and giving a description
Of their pHrentage, was then signed nr-t IN
presence OF the meeting by the bride aud bride
groom, ana then by a number OF their friends,
and read aloud to the meeting. Inc permission
~ act OF allowing mixed marriages at a Friends
Meeting Is a new one, and has brought with II
the anticipated consequences. The bridesmaids
we're Miss Dora Harris, Kiss Mary Delamere
Tyor, Miss Cox I'm place of Miss Wyndham, who
was unfortunately prevented from attendingl
and Miss Alice Mary Fletcher. few dovO-
tlonal remarks were made by several ministers
OF tho Society OF Friends, but none by any mem
Der Of tho other religious bodies present The
friends invited, about sixty in number, were az
terwhrd enter aimed at a breakfast at the Grosye-
nor Hotel. Among the SPEAKERS was Mr.. John
bright, NJ, T., who IL regular attendant at ST.
Martini Lane Meeting House. lie remarked
hrst thht he thought the dificultv Of speaking
IN All Interesting manner On those OCCASIONS
WAS that there was nothing new to commune
cate, and nothing to argue about. All present
were agreed that the union they were celebra-
ting was one that was likely to he a happy one
lie could truly say, looking at the result Of mar
fage In his own case and that u almost all his
friends that marriage was an event to rejoice
over, aud the source Of true happiness, contrib
uting greatly 10 a useful life. Feeling wearied by
the stress OF the long meeting that morning his
mind bad turned for rest to the contemplation
Of the remarkable history OF the Russell family.
He had thought Of the fate OF one member of
that illustrous, historical house, who had given
up hi. life for the Of civil liberty. lie had
also thought Of the prosecutions and sunerngs
OF the ences tors of many OF those present, many
OF whom had also given their lives as sacrifices
70 the cause Of religious liberty. The name OF
Nussell hAd Tor many ye r. or generations been
associated with the struggle for liberty. The
Boclety Of Friends had also done their part In
times that were past, and he hoped would CON
tlnue to strive for the same good objects In tho
future. There was therefore, nothing At all in
eongruous IN the marriage betw cen a member
q the house OF Russell ana a member OF the
Society of Friends.