St. Paul daily globe., 1895-03-11
TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO
Strange and Impressive Serv-
ices--Gentlemen Wear
Their Hats.

ter of the groom; MISS Rose conn, a
niece of the groom, both sweet
young brunettes of thirteen and
twelve years, respectively, robed in
white silk, and bearing bouquets of
white roses and ferns. Barney Cook,
a brother of the bride, and Moses,
brother of the groom, were the young
best men.
Soon after the canopy-bearers had
taken their places on the platform
at the end of the hall, Seibert's or
chestra began the Brides Chorus"
from 'Lohengrin," and the groom
appeared, escorted on either side by
his father and mother, Mr.. and Mrs.
Moses Shapiro. He was in full even
ing dress, but-strange sight to Gen
tile eyeS-he retained his hat upon
his head, and there it remained
during the entire service. The rab-
bis and all the gentlemen present
likewise continued with covered
heads. Indeed, whoever has wit
messed any of the orthodox religious
ceremonies of 1.-The chosen people
recall that to doff ones hat in the
synagogue is considered a sign of
gross disrespect.
The groom was stationed
UNDER THE CANOPY
and at the left side.
A few seconds later, also under the
escort of her parents, comes forward
the bride, a fair and innocent re-
minder, despite the altered sur
roundings, despite the changings of
centuries, of the blushing gazeIle-
eyed brides of ancient Israel, welded
under the eyes of the + gh priest,
beneath the spacious te' is of the
nomad chieftafnS anu in all the sweet
and tranquil stiffness cf Syrian
night upon the desert; or perhaps,
within the gorgeous luxury of regal
Jerusalem before the njgh:s edi-
flee of the great Solomon felt the
Romans annihilating hand
This diffident Rebecca of seventeen
wears beautiful costume of white
silk, en- train, with trimmings of
seed pearls. The luster of her large
dark eyes is dimmed, yet frightened,
beneath her sweeping veil of tulle
In her hand are white roses, lilies of
the valley and delicate ferns. Her
ORIENTAL lovliness would have been
incomplete without the diamonds
that sparkle from her ears and
throat.
She takes her station at the right
of the groom. The Rabbi Joseph
Aronsohn, of the Sons of Jacob syna-
gogue, begins, to orchestral accom-
paniment, Jewish marriage song.
The strange, pathetic melody, rising
and falling in unexpected cadence.
dropped frequently into minor key,
or the sweet, solemn strains of a
Wesleyan hymn. The words, of
course, are in the language of proph-
ecy and revelat ton = the ancient.
sonorous and impressive Hebrew.
whose beauty is the more developed
by the rabbits excellent tenor voice.
Then
THE MUSIC CEASES,
and the rabbi intonates the venerable
invocation to Jehovah, at whose sound
so many countless thousands of the
youth of Israel have cleaved to one
another-true to their race true TO
their religion, in spite of generations
or suffering and trial under the despot-
ISM OF the oppressor and the proseiyte.
The prayer is made while the rabbi
holds aloft glass of wine to be thus
conSecrated.
Now the groom drinks of the wine
and passes it to his hesitating bride.
that she also may drink Next he
takes ring (Which must be of solid
gold or silver, and unjeweleO and
places it upon the first finger of the
brides right hand, repeating, in He
Drew. the traditional formula by which
solemn matrimony was long enacted
even before the religion of the other
great sects of the present had sprung
into being. Says he:
You are married to me through this
ring, in accordance with the law of
Moses and of Israel" Then comes the
reading, by the rabbi of the marriage
contract. This has been previously
read. before the wedding, to both the
contracting parties, and has received
their verbal assent. 1t is written in
Hebrew. although frequently it is
translated. The contract contains no
reference to property affairs, but it
sets forth the duty of the husband TO
his Wife-his obligation to support
cherish and protect her. 1t is signed
by the groom and two witnesses. The
bride has offered her finger for the
ring; but such is the high ideal erected
Tor the women of Israel that, further
than this, she makes no sign. She
speaks not word, she says not wheth-
er she will obey she makes no prom
| 1ses, and she herself signs 10 contract.
AS Jewish maiden, she is presumed
| to know and to perform her duty. and
| absolute faith is reposed in her by
husband, parents and religion. There
| follows another Hebrew invocati ton,
A FINAL GLASS OF WINE
is drunk by man and woman. and the
| rabbi now declares them husband and
Vile. 1t may be added that a Jewish
marriage ceremony is never valid un-
less at least ten witnesses are present.
| from which it may be inferred that
| tnere were no Hudsons on the other
| side of the Jordan.
| Following the ceremony a sumptu-
Gus wedding supper was served. after
which dancing was indulged in until
an early hour this morning. Mr. and
Mrs. Shapiro left last evening for an
extended trip to the principal cities
of the East
| The groom is the son of Moses
Shapiro, the Seventh street jeweler.
the bride being the daughter of Israel
l.. Cook, a well-known wine merchan mt
| of Duluth.
Mrs. Moses Shapiro wore a black
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