The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25
TIE GOLDEN WEDDING.
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

OF poetry" the recenS celeDrabion In 0oruany
of the event above alluded to seems to give
weight to the latter thought, in spite OF the
prossio teachings Of daily experience. At the
secluded little village of Fautenback, near
Achern, in the Grand Duchy of Baden Baden,
on the 5th of February, 1877. the Golding We'd
ding of Munibald SCHNEIDER and his wife,
Catherine (nee Rash), was celebrated, and re-
oeived the blessing of the Rev. Deacon Nussle.
This beautiful ceremony, relic of the Ages OF
Faith, was witnessed by numerous spectators,
to whom it seems truly to have boon "a novelty
under the sum-" The venerable groom. now in
| his eighty third year, and his honored bride,
whe had attained that period when seventy
| two years are subjects of pride to q woman,
| accompanied by five sons and twenty-five
| grandchildren, entered the Catholic Church,
! and kneeling at the high altar, renewed the
vows which, half century before, had united
| them in the bonds of holy matrimeny, aud re-
| turned thanks to the bene Gcent bestower of all
good gifts, for the many favors with which He
had crowned their long and prosperous lives.
One shadow alone rested upon their grateful
hearts, that all of their descendants could not
have been present on this occasion but two
sons and eight grandchildren live in America
That the family is one of high responsibility,
and held in great esteem by their fellow-citi-
Gems, can be seen in the account given by the
Lahrer Anseiger, which says:
The venerable couple were attended by the
whole parish, with praise aud pleasure. to wit
ness this rare and impressive ceremonial The
Rev. Deacon Nassle eviuced much feeling by
the manner in which he celebrated this solemn
service and read 4 congratu atory letter from
the Most Rev. Arch bIshop Rud ersperger, which
communicated also the beuedictiou of His
Grace. When the religious ceremonies had
ended more worldly festivities commenced by
the unexpected bat gratefully received pre-
seuta ion of q gold medal, struck for the coca
son. and delivered to the worthy pair by the
Mayor of Achern. This medal was ordered and
presented by the Grand Duke through the
Mayor and bore on the obverse side the names
of the newly married pair, the cause and dates
OF the celebra alton, etc, etc, while on the
verse was beautiful baso-reIief likeness of
the Grand Dake himself. Ga the delivery of
this token, the Mayor addressed the assent led
community in an eloquent and appropriate
speech, showing the deep and fatherly interest
felt by his Royal Higbness, not only in the po-
| ltical but in the individual afiirs of his sub
| jects, and that while he honored the virtues
| and examples of the couple, whose fidelity and
noble characters had won for them on this
| memorable occasion the blessin of the Church
and the respect of the community in which
| they lived, they had also obtained the appro-
baton aud congratulations of the highest dig
nitary in the Duohy.
The Mayor then offered his own Fluctuations
| to the bride and groom and to their family,
| and held them up examples to be initiated
| by all then present. This beautiful ceremonial
| might here have found an appropriate termina-
! ton; but there was yet another pleasure to be
shared by the happy couple and the feast
prepared for the occasion was at Its height,
and the many wedding gifts wero attracting
the admiration Of the guests, express mes
| senger arrived, bearing rich and valuable
| offerings from far America Silver and gold
| drinking cups, with suitable Inscriptions, silk
fabrics, photographs, and other memorials from
the absent and beloved, shone and eparkled in
unison with the scene, while fresh toasts and
wishes were quaffed from these new arrivals 10
| honor of the SONS. grandchildren, nephews and
nieces, from whom they came, dwellers in
| Buffalo and New Orleans. A student grandson
wrote and delivered an address just before the
! old-fashioned ball was opened by the venerable
couple who had been partners in so many of
LIES changing scenes Bat one feature in this
hastily translated description has not been
recorded. 1t was the simple acknowledgement
Of the highly gratifed octogeu arian to the
friends who had thus honored his age. While
he touohingly expressed his gratitude for the
blessings of long life, he intimated in the
fullness of his heart a Willingness to meet at
any moment the summons when the Master called
him, saying, in the beautiful words of Scripture,
snow, o Lord, let thy servant depart in peace,
as his eyes have seen thy glory"
Long may they remain an example to their
friends on earth, and when they die, be again
united in q more lasting enjoyment in Heaven
Additional interest may be felt in the record
of the above ceremony by some of orr readers
when it ia stated that the Venerated Datriarch
whose golden wedding was thus celebrated
was the uncle of Mrs. L ouis Grunewsld, of thie
city.
New Books.