Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-22

TON AND THE DEPARTURE OF THE WEDDEl
PAIR.
One OF the most noted sections of our valley
and where. from the earliest civilization ives
of the mountains, continuous history records
events illustrating character, worth, 1ntell1
gence, and constancy to duty and RESPONSE
bility, is that on the central watershed of the
valley, of which Old Providence Church is the
centre little way down the western side o
the highest elevation from which the head
springs flow to the Shenandoah on the North
and to James river on the South, still stands
the large old stone church, the second in the
history OF the large congregation and 1t is zeal
one hundred years old. Just above and on the
crest of the ridge in an ancient forest grove 6
new and stately brick sanctuary was lately
reared. Its architecture denotes strength and
beauty of the doric order, the front having q
high entablature resting on massive white
columns. Near the old church is the old ceme-
terry furnishing by the Inscriptions upon the
tombstones and monuments material for q
volume The second cemetery ia located just
South of the new church, both evidencing the
superior character of the people by the man
ner in which they preserve the memory OF
their dead. The Old Providence congregation
is of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian
C0urGH, new D. w hduuOu, pdoGois Who 40 q
young minister of fine attainments, called q
few years since to succeed the late Rev. Hora-
ito Thompson. D. D.. who was in charge of that
church for forty years. Recently it was an
nounced that Miss Mary Dell. the only daugh-
ter of James II. Callison. Esq.,-who. for neal
fifty years, has been pillar OF strength among
his people, leading for that long time the
church music-was to be married to Reverend
Charles D. Waller of Alabama. Miss Call1son
is young lady rich in gifts and graces ana
finely educated, graduating recently at the oe-
nominational Female College at Due-W esl,
South Carolina. Mr.. Waller is graduate @
the Theological Seminary of the same denoml-
nation at Abbeville. South Carolina. but Is
minister of the other branch of the Presby-
terrain Church, and is located at Mckinley,
Alabama
In good time before the wedding day, young
ladies and gentlemen, friends and admirers OF
Miss Callison-and they embraced all. the old
and middle aged AS well as the young-througn
a wide extent of country in Augusta and ROCK
bridge, converting at the church. where the
marriage was to be celebrated, Wednesday,
the 18th instant. resolved to make demon
stration worthy of the event and all its assoc
atoms. Wreaths of evergreens entwined and
decorated the pulpit galleries. and hung in
flowers of many colors from dells and cliffs
were plucked and blended with the cultivated
in rich profusion. The clematis in its silken
bloom was woven in running and alternate
wreaths on the arch which occupied the center
OF the space in front of the pulpit Just behind
it, resting on an incline against the desk, was
q bank of interviewer flowers that nature her
self had seemed to offer in her richest bounty
On the frleze above the pulpit were the letters.
W. and G. in deep colored and bright. golden
tinted lines, and above them the horseshoe
emblematic of good fortune. wrought in SINH
lar colors and festocned gates at the head of
the aisles with bright lights peering through
their fiowery surroundings In darkened
house, completed the ornamentation OF the
church.
The ushers were Messrs. Baxter Slower, Of
Staunton; Calvin Rowan, Willie McKemy
and John Irvine. of Augusta. Miss Anna OFT,
of Newport. presided at the organ, and as the
party entered the church. Mendelssohn's we'd
ding march was rendered. The attendants
were Mr. James CuIton, with Miss Belle Nc
Cure. both OF Rockpridge; Mr.. ]. S. Callison
with Miss jamie Mcclure. both of Augusta;
Mr. Jno. Howard Mcclure with Miss Poague
Rowan. both of Augusta Mr.. Wallace Nc
Clure with Miss Lula Carson, both of Augusta !;
Mr.. Frank McClung, of Rockbridge, with Miss
Lizzie McKemy, of Augusta; Mr.. j. V. Walton,
with Miss Irene Berry, both OF Augusta. Fol
lowing the attendants, came the bride and
groom who stood under the arch facing the
audience The minister, Mr.. Haddon, was
standing obiquely to the brides left, facing at
that angle the pair to be married and the audi
ence. The ceremony over. the welded pair
and their attendants retired, Miss OFT again
lending interest to the scene by rendering the
wedding march by Giebel.
A few miles west Of the church is the home
of MIR. Cllaison. The bride and groom and their
attendants had returned, when other guests
arrived. The reception was in accord with all
that had occurred, and the table more than
bountifully spread with the substantials and
delicacies of a feast. The bride received from
her friends in the community and from many
residing in other States valuable tokens OF
their affectionate regard Late in the after
noon Mr.. and Mrs. Waller, taking a carriage,
drove to Staunton, arriving about II O'Clock al
the Virginia Hotel. They proceeded North by
the Chesapeake and Ohio line Thursday morn
ing.