Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-04
MARRIED WITHOUT A MINISTER.
Mr.. Hcston and Miss Crcnshaw Assume
Vows Under the Friends Ceremony.

In accordance with the peculiar SER
OF Philadelphia. and Miss Sara w. Cren-
shaw, OF this city. were united in mar
rage at the residence of the brides
mother. No. 800 west Marshall street.
Mt 10 O'Clock yesterday morning. The
wedding took place. as is the require
ment OF the Society. in the regular meet
ing of the Friends. The day and hour
were those OF the regular monthly meet
ing. which was designated to take place
Mt the home OF the bride. instead OF at
the meeting house. About fifty members
OF the society and close relatives were
present. This was the first marriage
! according 20 this ritual that has taken
place in Richmond In the past twenty
years. II Is due 10 be stated, however,
that the society Is small here. and that
weddings among its adherents are rare
occurrences.
ONLY WITNESS MARRIAGES.
The Friends claim that they do not
marry people but simply witness their
marriages. which they themselves per
feet. According to the customs OF the
Society, those proposing ma rimony are
required TO hand In their intentions"
at a business meeting OF tho Friends
at least one month before he wedding
is to take place. This meeting APP
points committee to inquire into the
prOpriety of the match. and to report
back. If the report IS favorable. there
being clearness to marriage on the
part Of both the man and the woman,
the nuptialS occur at IA public meeting
OF the Society. The parents or guardian
of the young lady must give consent
TO the match, and another popularity
of marriage among the members OF the
Society is that the ceremony shall al
ways take place during the daytime.
THE CEREMONY.
AS a rule, when all the prelminarIes
have been arranged, the parties repair
TO the residence OF the brides father.
where the marriage takes place. The
bride and groom enter and occapy seats
In the centre Of the parlor. or in fun
view OF the witnesses. After short sea
son of silence the bride and groom.
with their attendants. arise and ths
groom in an audible voice repeats the
vow prescribed by the discipline, which
is as follows: I'm the presence Of the
Lord and this assembly / take -
10 be my wife. promising. with divine
assistance, 10 be unto her loving and
faithful husband until death shall sepa-
rate us" The bride then repeats the
same vow. except to use her husbands
name in the place Of her own. and to
premise to be "a loving and faithful
wife" They are then presented with the
marriage certificate. which both sign. the
wife appending her new name. Then the
witnesses who desire so to DO affix their
signatures To the certificate as witnesses
This ceremony was carried out to the
letter yesterday. after which Mr.. and
Mrs. Heston received the CONGRATULATIONS
OF their friends. and took their departure
on the noon train over the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac road for
northern tour.
THESE WERE ATTENDANTS.
On entering the parlors the bride and
groom were preceded by the groOmsmen
and bridesmaids. who were Messrs. Aus
tin {. Leeds (best nam and Charles
Schol. of Philadelphia, and Misses Eta
Willis and Anna Heston, also Of the
Quaker City The bridesmaids were be
comingly attired in white gowns. while
the bride wore "a handsome travelling
suit. with hat and gloves TO correspond.
The groom is a son Of Mr.. David
Heston, of Philadelphia. and is a men,
Der of the firm Of David Heston & Sons,
publishers. His father made short talk
Just after the ceremony upon the
solemnity of marriage. and one Of the
lady members Of the Society offered an
earnest prayer. The bride is the talented
daughter of Mrs. Judith a. Crenshaw,
and of the late John r. Crenshaw.