The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-30
HONEST mATRInoAY.
A couple OF Quaker weddings
Out nj Barnesyille, Ohio.

HONEST MATRIMOAt.
a Couple of Quaker Weddings
Out nj Barnesyille, Ohio.
Enterprise OF the 18Th.
Yesterday about noon two wedding
occurred In the Old Saltwater Meeting
House, one mile east Of this place-the
last Of the many hundreds that have
been solemnizea in that ancient edifce
Built in 1911, 1t Is now sixty.seven year,
since 1t has witnessed the frat nuptialt
of the Friends Of this neighborhood
Within It's time.worn walls have been en-
acted the religious and social history Of
the Saltwater neiehborhood. What q
story It's old time.worn ceiling, its sif
backed benches might unfold, II they
could only fpeakl But they are as silent
as their gray.clsd occupants, speaking
only through the Imagination Of thew
itor or Of the worshippers who gathe.
there. Wednesday the old meeting
house was full Of people-Friends and
others-to attend the regular meeting
and to witness the marriage ceremony Of
George &. Smith, Of Guernsey County
and Rachel Doudna; and Of VIM
Henry Scare and Mary Z .Naylor. 1t
was double wedding, each party sup.
ported BY six attendants, in this respect
being better equipped than some Of the
worlds people. The Smith party were
attended by Jeptba Blowers and Rache!
Crew. Edwin Doudna and Anna Grew,
Joel K. Smith and Rebecca Blowers,
The Sears party by Ezra Naylor and
Louisa Barnes; Allen Bailey and Maria
Naylor, Johnkthan Briggs and Louisa
shfy. The entire church was used
on this occasion, the partitions being re-
moved, and although occupying different
ends Of the building, The Quaker youth
had limited facilities for catching dis
tant glimpses Of demure faces 10 Quaker
bonnets. For a'lopg time an impressive
silence prevailed, broken 1t last BY Ann
S,ratton, who spoke with simplicity and
eloauence Tor about fifteen minutes,
without any reference, however, TO the
important impending event. A few mo.
ments afterwards George Smith and
Anna Doudns arose, side by side, and
clasped each other by the hand. George
had on full suit Of broadcloth, and
aside from the peculiar Qaakerish shape
Of the regulation "plug" bat which be
wore. did not much differ from 40 ordi-
nary man OF the world when led forward
to the sacrifice. His bride was dressed
in grey-at our distance, we could not
make out the material, and as these
were mot fashionable weddings, it don't
make any difference any how. Bot
there were no orange blossoms nor jew.
elry-iust the simple Quaker bonnet,
which makes a fresh young bride look
more bewitching than the most elaborate
toilet In u clear, firm voice he said
q In the presence OF the Lord and this
assembly take Anna Doudna TO be my
wife, promising with Divine assistance
to be unto her loving and faithful bus
band until death shall seperate us.n Alter
him, 10 lower, sweeter tones, came Sim
liar promise from the woman. Then
they sat down, and the other couple stood
np and were married in like manner.
10 brief, they married themselves, like
the primitive way when priest and pres
cher were unknown. Afterwards the
Clerk OF the Society appeared with a
pouderous roll Of paper, commencing
with a /" Whereas" and recouuting how
the parties having pledged themselves In
former meetings, and being sAnctionized
by the Society, had duly solemnized their
marriage on the 9Th day Of March. 1873,
Then appeared " the best men and re,
ceiyed the record, took it 70 the parties
interested, produced apen and wooden
inkstand, and the brides and grooms for
mally affixed their names 10 the paper
Aseneth Bailey then made few remarks
pertinent TO the occasion. Then q lev
moments silence, and the meeting rose
and there was an interchange oil hand
shaking, when the stern faces relaxed
and eyes " beamed sac kindly on friends
and neighbors., This is real hrotheriy
kindness, and nobody is excluded from
the interchange il he happens TO Dc
known. Our old friend, Robert Smith
asked us II we didn't think il wa nice,
comfortable way To be married; good ole
Hosea Doudna told Us the, age Of The
church, and Barclay Stratton and joseph
Doudna gave rs chance 10 be immor'
talized In the Smith and Sears families
BY appending our unreliable signature
to the marriage record. An ancient els
ter spilled ink on one OF them, and thu
clerk q got warm" as the boys woald say
and II be had not been disciplined
through generations Of ancestors, We
know be wonld have got mad and-scol
dedl But thanks to repressive power
nothing save rush Of color was visible
and only the reporter noticed the MON
entary Inflammation. Weleft Saltwater
rs We always leave an assemblage O
Fnends-feeling better, with bit Of re
greet, mayhap, that into all lives theF'
does not come sueh great peace and per
feet content As seem 70 pervade these pla
cid natures. This was, perhaps, the las
meeting TO be held in the old building
and n sadness such as seldom came before
seemed TO enter the hearts oil the ole
Friends as they thought Of what hsd oc
eurdsd through so many yeaIs 10 the ole
meeting house.
eve may BULL more splendid haldthti n
But We eaLnot Luy With kOid thi cd GA,telationA