The Lake County star., 1877-05-17

IL may not be known 10 every reader
that the Society OF Friends. commonly
called Quakers, have such distinctive
usages In connection witfetheir nuptihl
contract that their matrimonial cere-
mony Is quite unique. They are the
only denomination among Christians
who marry without . minister. To
get at the beginning OF anything is
rather difficult, since, begin where you
will, there u always eDmething elte-
rlor to that. For, In the present In
stance, the beginning may have been
some monthly or quarterly meeting,
or perchance, some gathering to hear o
visiting Friend from Indiana. pre-
sumo, however, that the real initiative
Is when Rachel Rebecca answers yea,
verify. to pointed and personal ques-
ton from Israel Obadiah. Among
Quakers, however this part of the cere-
mony Is understood to be strictly pri-
vate and confidential, so much so as a
modern politicians letter. The public
part of the ceremony begins when our
Rachel Rebecca gets some nged female
friend to present her concern" before
the monthly meeting. 1t would be
safe to wager q pair Of the best French
kids that Rachel Rebecca will not be
present at that meeting. The monthly
meeting take the matter into their
serious consideration and appoint q
committee to wait upon the parties and
see II they are "clear" upon the sub
ject. Being found clear, 1t Is reported
to the next monthly meeting, who
then solcmnly consent to the celebra-
ton of the rite, It being understood
that the parents of both parties have
already given their consent.
All these preliminaries having been
settled, the Interested parties appoint
day, ''and then and there Is hurrying
to and fro." Even Quak keresses, neat
and trim, show signs Of agitation. The
meeting-hOuse is gaily decorated with
flowers, number OF chairs are placed
in front of the elders seat, known to
the initiated as facing" The bridal
procession enters the Westinghouse
generally about the hourfor commence
Ing meeting, and the bride and BRIDE
with the groomsman and
bridesmaids, fill the waiting chairs,
and then all sit I'm silence for some
time. After an indeterminate period
the groomsman takes off the groom's
glove. while the bridesmaid performs
the same kind Office for her friend.
Then the pair join hands, while the
man says. II take this dear friend
Rachael Rebecca to be my wife, and
promise by Divine assistance to be
unto her loving and faithful husband
until separated by DEATH" The woman
repeats the same formula, substituting
only the necessary change Of gender,
and so avoids that promise to be obedi-
ent which sadly troubles some ladies
Then some friend pre-
sents the marriage certificate, which is
signed first by the newly welded pair.
then by the maid and best man, after
which the certificate Is read to all the
The certificate, which
Is generally of most formidable
length, states that these two friends
have duly laid their purpose of mar
riage before two monthly meetings,
have been found clear by the visiting
have received the consent
Of parents, aud finally have, at public
for worship held this sixth
day of eleventh month, 1877, ut Nudge
Hollow, duly taken the following OBJ
legations upon themselves, &C., and i'm
token thereof signed this marriage GER
tificate, the wife, after the custom of
taking the name Of her hus-
band. The meeting now goes on until
the usual time for closing without any
notice being taken of the event,
unless some one present feels called
upon to make reference to 1t in prayer
or praise. After service the newly
couple usually pass out first
and receive the congratulations of
their friends ut the threshold. The
Quaker maiden loses one OF the dear,
delightful privileges possessed by her
Of disclaiming her engagement with
an "Oh! never thought Of such a
thing.p For one month at least the
Is public property, and
Rachael Rebecca has to endure as
much raillery as any fashionable young
lady of the upper ten.