The Jersey City news., 1891-11-23
Highest Of all in Leavenng Pcyer Laeat u S Govt eporr
J Al. BskIj,:. B,,.iIs'.
ABSOLUTELY PURE

WITH one OF nef parents. Wnlle une
bridal party are grouping themselves
for entering the church the mother is
conducted to her seat next the altar
by some chosen friend, if she has nc
son or near relative to escort her. The
ushers, two and two, march in first
| then the bridesmaids in pairs, the
maid of honor next and the bride fol
lows last leaning upon her fathers
right arm. The groom and best man
have come to the altar with the
clergyman from the vestry and are
awaiting the bride The groom steps
slightly forward to meet her, leads
her to the altar and both kneel for a
minute or so in devotion.
Groupings of bridal parties are mat
ters of personal taste. Half the ush-
ers usually place themselves on either
side of the altar, while the brides
maides are all at the brides left, but
sometimes half of the latter are upon
each side, pairs parting near the
| chancel rail, as do the ushers.
| Maids of honor always stand next
| the bride and the best man next the
| groom. The person who is to give
| the bride away sometimes it is a
| widowed mother) is seated nearest the
aisle at the left, and when the ques-
| ton, who giveth this woman?" is
| asked, he or she rises and bows to the
| clergyman. 1t is no longer common
| to place the hand of the bride in that
of the clergyman, but SO pleasant and
impressive custom should not be
allowed to disappear
The bride of today goes to church
| without gloves, thus sparing the mar
rage service that awkward pause
that was once too common during
their removal. This usage is lately
adopted one, but is sure of general ap-
proval. The groom removes the glove
from his right hand, a gloveless
groom by daylight not having yet
been sanctioned. He may do this in
the vestry If he chooses
When there are no bridesmaids a
pretty effect is produced by the brides
entrance alone, preceded by her pa
rents arm in arm. In advance of her
is her maid of honor, if she has one.
Two pages to bear her train are very
pretty appendages to a ceremony,
whether it is attended or unattended
by a group of maids. OF course,
ushers are essential, and they enter in
advance of the parents, the latter
standing to the left Of the bride and
just back of her, or taking the seats
nearest the bride.
When going from the altar the
ushers walk first. The bride, on the
groom's right arm, leaves the church
with happy but grave dignity, look
ing neither to the right nor to the left,
recognitions being for the home and
not for the sanctuary on a bridal
morning.-Brooklyn Citizen,
Favorite Wedding Days.
There are favorite days in the week
for marriages as we'll as favored
months in the year. Saturday, Sun
day and Monday are the most in es-
teem-Sunday in the rural districts
and Saturday in the towns, says the
London It'd Bits. 1t appears, how
ever, that Sunday weddings are less
numerous than tney were, while Sat
urday weddings are on the increase.
Friday is deemed an unlucky day for
marriage as for most other undertake
ings. In the County OF Gloucester
there were but thirty Friday mar
riages in a year to 213 Saturday, 211
on Monday and 203 on Sunday. In
Manchester much the same proportion
holds good. The Friday weddings
were but "a to 2S7 on Saturday, 221 on
Sunday and 17S on Monday.
In Scotland, on the other hand.
Friday is a great day for marriage;
nearly half the weddings for a given
year are celebrated on that day. Sun
day in Scotland is practically dies
non for matrimonial purposes, and
the Saturday weddings are exceeding
ly few.
Our prejudice against Friday mar
riages in general does not extend to
Good Friday-at least in certain town
districrs-for, whereas. the average of
Friday marriages in Manchester was
in one year but twenty one, on Good
Friday there were celebrated as many
as thIrty4six. There are no figures,
however, to show that this is com
mon state of things.
The one day in the year on which
more marriages are celebrated in Scot
land than on any other is December
81, which is doubtless explained by
the fact that New Years Day there is
observed as a general holiday. In.
England no one day is in the same
position, but the favorite wedding
days are Christmas Day, Easter Mon.
day, Whitsen Monday and the days
preceding and following them and
then the August bank holiday