Morning journal and courier., 1881-06-04
AtHymen's Altar.
Am Interesting Society Event In Cheshire
Marriage of Rev. MIR. Raftery.

Am Interesting Society Event In Cheshire
Marriage of Rev. MIR. Raftery.
CHESHIRE, June 2, 1881.
The marriage of the Rev. o. 81. Raftery
and Miss Mary E. Clark, an event which has
many days past, TRANSFERRED at St. Peters
church this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. Mr..
Raftery has been for five years the rector of
st. Peters church in this place, and from his
brilliancy and effective work is admired and
esteemed by his parishioners in manner
which seldom becomes the happy lot of any
rector. Miss Clark was until recentlya resi-
dent of Augusta Ga, being the daughter of
the late William 81. Clark, D. D., of that
place; is connected with Cheshire in that her
grandfather, the late Peter G.. Clark, D. D.,
chaplain of the United States navy, made this
his home during his late years, and that it is
still the residence of his daughters, one of
whom is the wife of Prof. Phillips, of Yale
College, and who constitute one of our most
honored and esteemed families. Miss Clark
during her visits to this place has, by her
rare social charms, won many friends. For
these reasons the approaching event had at
tracted universal attention in our town, and
for many days the minds of the people have
been occupied in devising plans for making
the incidents of the ceremony such that it
should be long remembered by the favored
couple as an occasion showing pre-eminently
the affectionate regard in which they are held
by the people of st. Peters church. For
some time the more active workers have been
busily engaged in decorating the church, and
to-day when the visitors hocked into the edi-
fee to witness the ceremony, the outcome of
all these plans and labors was manifest in the
beautiful floral decorations about the chancel
and altar, and even the entire church. At the
head of the middle aisle was an arch of
white flowers intermingled with arbor vitae,
from the center of which was suspended
tasty little basket of pink flowers. In the
chance1 was placed another arch, and hang
ing from its center the traditional horse shoe,
composed of red flowers With this ancient
symbol and its mystic omens over them the
couple were to stand, and beneath the flow
cry arch the ceremony was to be solemnized.
The font, pulpit, desk, chancel rail and
chandeliers were all tastefully and beautifully
decorated, while from two arches in the
chancel hung suspended by silken rope the
marriage bell. The bell was very elegant
piece of work, being formed of white flow
ers, the clapper of red, and the whole being
arranged in such an artistic manner as to
make an exquisite appearance. But of all
these floral decorations, while each in itself
was marvel of beauty, the one which at
tracted most attention and called forth most
admiration was the monogram c. R. on the
altar, the G. being of white flowers and the
R. of red, the grace and perfection of ar
rangement being such as to call forth many
encomiums for the skill OF the ladies who did
the work. Many other ornamentations with
flowers had been made in various parts of
the church. and the effect of the entire in
terrier was SO charming that, although the
church was filled at half, past three o'clock,
while occupied in looking at SO pleasant a
sight none regretted that they arrived an
hour too early for the ceremony itself. Rev.
F. W. Hartman, of Portland, acted as best
man, and Messrs. E. M. Hyde, George M.
Curtis, Howard T. Moss and DIR. George G.
F. Williams ushers Promptly at 4:3O
O'Clock the party arrived, and while the
groom with his best man waited in the chan
GEL the bride, leaning upon the arm of Prof.
Phillips, passed up the middle aisle pre-
coded by the ushers the latter separating
either side of the head of the
aisle, while the bride and escort passed on to
the altar to meet the groom. The bride was
arrayed in white silk dress, en- train, elabo-
rately trimmed with Spanish lace and tulle.
The bridal veil was also of tulle and fastened
with real orange blossoms. The groom and
best man were dressed in the clerical black.
The rites were performed by the Rt. Rev.
Bishop Williams assisted by the Rev. DIR.
Horton, and the bride was given away by
Professor Phillips. The ceremony was end
ed the event of the season for Cheshire had
TRANSFERRED, the groom possessed charming
wife and the bride brilliant husband, the
bridal party passed out of church, their
pathway being strewn with buttercups and
daisies by little girls, the bell pealed forth it's
| most joyful tone and the blissful couple de-
parted attended by the happy wishes of all
who knew them.
After the ceremony at the church the rela
tives of the family were entertained at the
house of Professor Phillips, where they were
treated to display of elegant presents sent
from Augusta, Ga, New York, New Haven,
Meriden and many other places. Among the
gifts was an elegant black walnut bookcase
and set of silver forks, presented by the Ia
dies of st. Peters parish. After an hour of
congratulations and good wishes from friends
the newly married couple set out for New
Haven, there to take the train for a tour of
three or four weeks duration in Canada and
northern New England. AS the carriage
drove from the house it was followed by
shower of rice, and it passed the Wallace
House the occupants were greeted with the
fight of shoe from the piazza. Thus mer-
rily did the voyagers set forth. That their
excursion may be replete with pleasure unal-
Logged, and that their future life may be as
happy, are the wishes of all of Cheshire's
people.
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