St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-03
MINNEAPOLIS.
A UNIQUE WEDDING.

"A niece OF IL. u. mendenhaIl
Welded at the Society of
Friends.
One of the prettiest social affairs that
has graced the West hotel for months
was the reception gwen last night by
Mr.. and Mrs. r. j. Mendenball in honor
of the marriage of their niece. Miss
Abby j. Virgins, to George S.
Murtfeldt. The wedding oc-
CURED at the little church of
the Society of Friends. at the corner of
Hennepin avenue and Eighth street.
The little auditorium had been prepared
for the occasion. Vases of the richest
green SmilaX and palms made up the
decorations. At o'clock the church
was filled with an audience, made up of
people high in Minneapolis society.
The wedding was to be held in genuine
Quaker fashion, the second of the kind
known in the annals of the city. The
assembly was supposed to represent
meeting of the society. The cere-
money was opened by the entrance of
the bridal party. The overseerS were
the first to enter. On the right of the
church, acting in this capacity, Mr.. and
Mrs. William Petit preceded, followed
by the groom accompanied by the best
man, Percy Mendenhall, cousin of the
bride. ElvIa Mcmillan and Asa l..
Black. the other two groomsmen fol-
lowed. simultaneously with this EN-
trance Mr.. and Mrs. Benjamin Webb pre-
ceded the bride, who was accompanied
by her maid of honor, Miss Louisa Murt-
feldt, sister of the groom. Miss An
ME Wright and Miss Gertrude Petit,
the other bridesmaids, followed. Ar
irving at the altar a selection of Script
ure was read by DR.. A. V. Talbert. The
vital portion of the ceremony then fol-
lowed. 1t was simple and unique in the
extreme, and the more impressive be-
cause of it. No clergyman took part in
it. The groom, taking the hand OF the
bride in his own, said:
''In the presence of the Lord and
before this assembly, [ take Abby j.
Virgins to be my wife, promising. with
divine assistance. to be loving and
faithful husband unto her until death
shall separate u.s."
On his concluding, the bride
repeated the same words, insert
ing the name Of her betrOthed in
place of her own and wife for husband.
The certificate of marriage was then
read by Benjamin Webb, clerk OF the
evenings C6T6InOIllcS.
A prayer was offered by Rev. j. T.
PInkham and Mrs. Van Colt offered the
benediction.
The bridal party then passed out of
of the church. Then, according to the
custom OF the society, the elders and
ministers, who occupied seat at the
front of the church facing the audience.
Joined hands, which is the signal for the
close of the meeting. The congregation
took up the hand shaking and the we'd
ding was over-the meeting at close.
The party took carriages which awaited
them and repaired Immediately to the
West hotel for the reception OF this
evening. The ushers at the church were
John Long, G. w. Coffin, c. NJ. Parry,
II. w. Carton, Alfred Owre. The mar
rage certificate was signed by all of
witnesses of the wedding. the relatives
and close friends atfiXing their names to
the left-the others to the right, OF the
manuscript. Taking it altogether 1t
would be hard to imagine a prettier or
more unique wedding.
The reception at the West hotel was
attended by two hundred friends. The
whole second floor was thrown open to
the party. The parlOrs were most beau
tifully decorated with flowers. In the one
apartment adjoining the grand parlOr
three magnificent bouquets Of velvety
red roses frightened the room; in the
other, the very symbolica1 design of a
vessel of flowers, with silken sails
spread, floated on sea of roses. In
the grand parlor handsome col
lection of palms formed a graceful
heap. and in this room Mr.. and Mrs.
MendenhaIl, the bride, who is to them
as daughter, the groom and the others
of the bridal party stood and received
the guests. The bride was at
tired in rich costume Of
white corded silk with velvet brocade,
duchesse lace and diamonds. In her
hand she carried an exquisite bouquet Of
Madagascar orchids and tropical flowers,
such as never before graced the hand OF
a Minneapolis bride.
Without DanZ's orchestra filled the
corridors with music. A banquet was
served IN connection with the reception.
Flowers decked the boards, ard it was
model wedding feast.
Mr.. and Mrs. Murtfeldt leave soon on
tour through Wisconsin, after which
they go to their future home at st.
Louis.