The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1895-06-22
MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
BY REV. JOHN HEWITT.

The use OF precomposed set form OF
marriage is every year becoming more
popular. In fact opposition to precom-
posed fo,ms in religious ceremonies Of
all kinds is fast passing away. The
Form OF SolemniZation OF Matrimony of
the Episcopal church has done much
toward brea ing down this opposition.
Although it was many years ago EN-
bodied in the book Of discipline of the
Methodist church il was almost never
used by the ministers of that church
until recently, and the ministers of
other religious bodies. which reject
forms altogether. now use il upon
request OF those who come to them to
be married.
THE REASON
is not far to seek. Weddings have come
to be regarded as great social events.
And society imperiOusly demands ODE
dience to the minutest details OF the
forms and ceremonies pertaining to it.
Its best representatives seek the best
forms to express the highest order Of
refinement and culture. Hence they
appeal to art, whose special province is
to find the best and truest expression
for thought and feeling according to
the occasion. Society therefore has
become the most generous patron OF
art, and thus emphasizes its regard for
the eternal fitness OF things. However
gross by nature men or women may be,
il they desire recognition In any given
social circle they must observe the un-
written but autOcratic rules which gov
ern it, or else presently find themselves
left outside Of that particular circle.
But not society only. institutions Of
religion also seek the aid of art SO far as
it can serve them in their endeavOrs to
appropriately express the highest
thought and feeling ano purpose in re.
lation to the duties and engagements
peculiar to them.
In this respect at least the church
and society are in agreement. And
since marriage is an institution Of re-
ligion, and the wedding has come to be
regarded as a great social function, 1t is
natural to expect that those ceremonies
attending it will be most popular and
acceptable which most nearly satisfy
the aesthetics Of both religion and So
ciety. The marriage ceremony OF the
Episcopal church seems to do this and
hence it is coming into general use.
ITS CONSTRUCTION
But have people generally clear con
ception If all that this beautiful cere,
mony expresses? AS it now stands il
comprises parts OF two ceremonies form
erly separate and distinct. abbreviated
and thrown together, and conforming
to state of society different from that
which existed when they were separate
The two parts are the betrothal and
the nuptials. The history of these and
of how they were brought together is
too long to relate here and not necess.
AIRY to our purpose except in so far as it
may help to convey an intelligent idea
of what they are designed to express.
Itwas the custom in olden time, when
the church ruled society, if a couple
wished to be joined in marriage, to
make the fact known to the minister of
the parish in which they lived, and it
was his duty on the next occasion of
public worship TO publish the fact in
the presence and hearing Of the people.
At that time the persons wishing to be
married advanced to the steps of the
choir space in the church and remained
standing there upon the floor OF the
nave before the minister. who gave them
an exhortatiOn or instruction on the
duties of the married state, received
from them an audible expression Of
their willingness to take each the other.
and gave opportunity to the people
present to say whether they knew Of
any scriptural reason why they should
not be joined together. This ceremony
was called "betrothal'' and gave rise to
the custom which now prevails in some
circles of announcing engagements. 1t
is with reference to this that so much
of the marriage ceremony as it now
stands is usually conducted at the en-
trance to the choir.
THE NUPTIALS.
The banns or proclamations Of MAJ
rage were made on several Sundays
following. On the day appointed