The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-01
A HALLELUJAH WEDDING
CAPT. TEAR AND LIEUT.. ROONEY. y.
a, JOIN HANDS AND FORTUNES.
A Bridal Procession. with Drums. Cor
nets and Guitars. starts from
~ Downtown Corner.

An opportunity to see a "Hallelujah we'd
ding" that is. a marriage according TO the
rites of the Salvation Army, was given TO a
large crowd at Y. VI. c. \. Hall last night.
when Capt. Ernest ]. Tear and Lieut.. Car
RE +. Rooney. of the local corps. were
joined in wedlock by Lieut.. Col. Brewer. of
Chicago. The entire local corps occupied
the stage. Captain Tear and Lieutenant
Rooney sitting in the front row, the one to
the right and the other TO the left of
Colonel Brewer. The was per-
formed after a regular hallelujah meeting
OF the most pronounced Salvation Army
type, in which the drums. stringed instru-
ments. a coronet and accordion were used
Justify 10 give expression TO the enthusiasm
which always characterizes the soldiers.
At a signal from the lieutenant colonel
the bride and groom advanced to the front.
The bride was attended by one of the work.
ers, while Adjutant Lamb stood as best
man. Behind the bridal party stood two
others of the army holding crossed above
their heads the two flags behind which the
army always marches-one a st~ar-spangled
banner and the other the red flag of the
army. with its cross and other embIems.
The ceremony was rather long. but was
very impressive to the large crowd which
sat listening to the two who were pledging
themselves TO one another and TO the ever
lasting service of Christ and the Salvation
Army. All the participants i'm the scene
wore the usual garb OF the army. the bride
her plain dark dress and huge bonnet. the
groom his uniform of blue coat and trous-
ers and red shirt. Her face CLEANED with
a new happiness and he seemed prouder
than If he had just come into a fortune as
they stood pledging themselves to a life of
privation and hardship for the Salvation
Army, in its sevena articles of faith with
reference to marriage. requires the partici-
pants In the right TO declare that they are
contracting the marriage relation not for
personal happiness. but with a belief that
IT will aid them in the common end for
which they are striving. and that they will
neither do nor say anything to hinder one
another from doing and giving what may
seem right TO them for the good of the
army. Marriage is regarded as a sacram mt
10 bind them TO closer work for Christ. not
as an end toward their own selfish happi-
ness: incidentally, Colonel Brewer re-
marked that he had never known of a
couple married in the Salvation Army rite
Who afterwards applied TO the courts for
enforcement.
This "hallelujah wedding was but typi-
cal or the whole Salvation Army life-a life
OF noise. enthusiasm and publicity. a life in
the eyes or the submerged tenth. appealing
IN an uncongruous way to religious senti-
mentS somewhat scared, and apparently de-
void OF all home ties and the deeper senti-
mentS, but nevertheless a life of Self-devo-
ton.
The wedding march began on the street
corner. The announcement that a wedding
was about to be celebrated in the army
drew an unusually large throng of people
TO the street meeting. and there was a mot
drums TO the Y. NJ. G. A. Hall, where many
turned back when they found. a fee of 10
cents was to be charged. IN the audience.
however, were a number of well-dressed
men and women. some of them from the
North Side Churches. They sat side by side
with the poor and unfortunate who have
been reached. touched and perhaps saved
by the army's ministration. Adjutant
Lamb, who came here recently, introduced
Lieut.. Col. Brewer. The latter Is a cherry
talker, and he soon had every one feeling at
ease. There was some speculation i'm the
audience as to where the bride was. 1t was
not suspected that she sat on the stage, ex-
the identity OF the groom was equally un-
known. There was q song. How Happy
Are They Who Their Savior Obey" in
which the audience was requested 70 join.
At times the music from the band was a
a little discordant. the coronet player get
ting ahead in his time and ten accordion
failing TO harmonlze with the guitar. while
the played on regardless of any
body but themselves. As the words of the
song stirred them, the members of the army
beat time with their hands.
Remember that the Salvation Army does
not claim to monopolize the hand %clapping."
cried Colonel Brewer. You can all join
u.s."
"Hallelujah.'' he cried, when the song
ended. Everybody shout hallelujah.' he
said. turning 10 the workers on the stage.
They responded with a lusty shout. Il am
glad to see that the devil has not got his
sniffers on you Salvationists down here.
The there was a solo by Lieut.. Joseph
Hill. who played his own accompaniment
on the guitar, everybody joining in the
chorus.
Following the lesson from the Scriptures
there was a Testimony" meeting, after
which Lieut.. Col. Brewer spoke Of his own
conversion and told of his work in the
army. He spoke of the first time he met
Captain Tears at Detroit. saying. Il think
/ life him in jail. He was arrested by a bad
policeman. Then there's Lieutenant. Room
CIV. She has been a faithful worker for five
years. / believe Captain Tears is getting a
little the best of it,"
He read congratulatory telegram from
Ensigns Peterson and Crowley. of Chicago.
After the was concluded the new
ly-wedded couple added their bit to the
words of testimony. Rev. j. A. Milburn,
pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church,
was asked for "A word. He expressed high
regard for the work OF the Salvation Army
and extended his best wishes TO Mr.. and
Mrs. Tears. After the benediction the au-
dience crowded forward to extend congra-
tulations to the couple. They are to be
transferred from here to another point, net
yet determined.