The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-07-31
A NOVEL WEDDING CERE-
NIONX.
An Adventist Minister Steps
From the Pulpit and Mar
Fies Himself TO a Lady OF
His SCOHgregafiNn.


A very singular marriage took place
at the Adventchapel, Worcester, Mass.
Saturday evening. The affair has
created considerable comment and not
little feeling among the Adventists,
and is thus reported in the Gazette:
"The parties married were Mr.. Henry
j. Munsen, Of Modoc, No., and Miss
Matte A. Eaton, of this city. Of the
groom very little is known except that
ne advertised hiEaself as an evangelist
from Kansas. The bride is a very
estimable young lady, a native OF
Shrewsbury, where her mother still re-
sides. She has been living for some
time in the family Of DR. &. B. Rob
bins, and has been regular attendant
at Trinity Methodist Episcopal church.
She is an earnest Christian, and has
won the love and respect of all who
have become acquainted with her.
Mr.. Munson went to Mr.. E. G. Hig-
gins, who had the charge Of the Ad-
vent chapel last week, and represented
himself as an Advent preacher, and
asked Of the ekapel for meeting on
Saturday evening. He stated in re-
ply to questions as to the object Of the
meeting, that he inteLded to be mar
ried, but declined to give the lady's
name. lie told Mr.. Higgins that Ell
der Bachelor of New Bedford, who was
to preach onSunday, would perform the
ceremony. Mr.. Higgins reluctantly
gaze his consent supposing there
would be only a small gathering.
On Sunday morning Mr.. Munson
advertised a meeting, stating that
he would preach Il sermon on
three parts, but did not mention any
thing about marriage ceremony.
When the hour for the meeting ar
rivrd, about fifty persons were present.
Mr.. Munson went into the pulpit and
preached sermon the first two divis.
ions being "Repentance" and "Holi.
ness or Sanctifcation." He then
opened the Bible at Mathew XIV, and
proceeded to read the parable of the
ten virgins. At the sixth verse
"And at midnight there was cry
made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh:
90 ye out to meet him"-he stepped
down from the pulpit and the lady
stepped forward from one Of the front
pews, and taking the Bible, continued
to read from the seventh to the tenth
verses, inclusive, MIR. Munson then
took the lady's right hand, and said,
"And / now, before God and these
witnesses, do take this woman whom
[ hold by the right hand to be my law
full welded wife, to love and cherish
her as my own body until Christ shall
come te claim Us with all saints as his
OWE bride or until death shall part U.S. y
"Thc woman SAID: And now take
this man to be my lawful welded hus-
band to love, reverence and obey him
until the Lord kiRsself shall descend
from heaven with a shout and with
the voice of an archangel, and with
the trump of God or till death shall
us sever"
"They then bowed down and the
man offered prayer. After the prayer
Mr.. Munson returned to his desk and
closed his discourse by urging the I'M
portance of being ready for the coming
of the Lord. The services closed il
good order.
"After the close Mr.. Munson says
that a few persons, variously stated at
from four to ten, made some objections
to the manner in which the marriage
had been performed and some became
quite denunciatory. Others consider
ed it as very simple and sublime GER
emony. The marriage license was
taken out on Saturday from the city
clerks Office, and this morning it was
returned. The blank space for tAe
name of the officiating clergyman or
justice is not filled, so that the return
has no authority attached to it. Un-
der the circumstances it would appear
to have been very appropriate for both
parties to have but their signature to
the instrument.
"The parties have been stopping at
No. 70 Portland street, and on Sun
day attended the services at the Ad-
vent chapel, where they were cordial
ly treated. Mr.. Munson says that he
asked Elder Bachelor to marry him;
but he declined to go to the chapel
Saturday evening on account Of his
age and iufrmities. He, however,
claims that the elder sanctions the pro-
ceedings. Mr.. Higgins takes the
blame upon himself for allowing the
services to be held, and desires to ex-
onerate ethers connected with the
church. He will not allew the chap~
ell to be used again except by parties
as to whose standing in Christian
work there can be doubt. Mr.. Nun
son has with hina recommendations
from variouspartiesi in Missouri, giving
him high Endorsement. They call him
DR.. Munson,' and certify to has prac-
ticlng medicine for ten years. The
strangely-wedded pair have gone to
visit the brides motherin Shrewsbury. "