The Monitor-register., 1897-01-15
Married Fifty Years.

of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Asso.
citation, and his wife, celebrated their
golden wedding on Wednesday last.
There was no formal reception, al
though the couple were the recipients of
many presents. Many eongratulatory
kilograms and letters we're received.
The announcement card sent out by
DR.. Stokes was headed "The golden an
niversary, fifty years of welded love,
1847-1897." Photographs of the couple
adorn the first page. On one page is a
reproduction of their marriage notice, as
follows:
STOKEs-STOUT-At the residence of
the brides parents, Haddonfield, N. j.,
on the 9Th of January. 1S47, by Rev. John
K. Shaw, Presiding Elder of the Camden
District, Rev. Ellwood 81. Stokes. of the
New Jersey Annual Conference and pas
tor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Gloucester City, N. j., to Sarah Ann,
second daughter of Rev. Edward Stout,
of the New Jersey Conference.
On the back page is golden anniver-
sary address In verse, entitled Husband
to Wife," compose by the Doctor. The
announcement was sent to every house,
hold in Ocean Grove, and the responses
were many in the shape of floral tributes,
letters and presents.
In response to the announcement cards
of the golden anniversary came replies
from every part of the country. Minis
ters and laymen alike were represented.
Vice President elect Hobart wrote
81 have received and read with great
deal of pleasure the tribute to your low
ing and beloved wife which you send me
with the memorial card of your golden
anniversary. congratulate her and you
upon the happy completion of the fifty
years of your marriage"
Bishops Hurst, of Washington; Foss,
of Philadelphia; Ninde. of Detroit, and
Mallalieu, of Boston, all sent congratula-
tory messages. Rev. DR.. A. G.. Kynett,
secretary of the Church Extension Society
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with
offices in Philadelphia, sent message
full of cheer and congratulations.
The tribute to 'your loving and be-
loved wife," which Vice President elect
Hobart referred, to was poem written
by DIR. Stokes and dedicated to his wife.
1t is as follows:
Dearest one, we both remember
Fifty years ago to-day.
AS we we've our marriage lay.
Fifty years OF holy union
Call for gratitude divine;
Fifty years of sweet communion
Now awaken joys sublime.
Dearest one, my heart Is rendered,
rendered toward thee, precious wife.
For thy love unceasing rendered
Through the years Of welded life.
Thou hast been to me blessing
In the work had to do;
Soothed me with thy soft caressing,
Gentle as the evening dew.
Thou didst help me, kindly, dearest,
When earth's sorrows bowed me low,
Streng thened often when severests
Trials had their darkest flow.
When my life seemed only losses,
When my heart bled at each pore,
Thou didst help me bear my crosses,
And each day hast helped me more.
So our joys have been the brighter,
So our bitterer more sweet;
So our cares haYe been the lighter
| AS our love grew more complete.
LighterI There were two to bear them
In their passing to and froi
sweeter! There we're two to share them.
Since the fifty years ago."
Now to thee, my ever dearest,
Through these cherished years of life,
Unto me the al ways nearest.
Truly loved, my honored wife.
Peace be thine, o blessed treas ure!
Peace to both while each shall live;
Then above. in highest measure,
Peace which heaven alone can give.
o beloved we can never
Here re-lfve life's happy years;
But we shall in sweet forever
Breathe the bliss of sinless spheres.
Life With Us, its griefs and pleasures,
Clouds and sunshine Will haye past;
Come to me in fullest measure,
All the peace of God at last.
Praises, then, for years of gladness,
More than those our spirits bowed;
| More of cheerfulness than sadness,
More of sunshine than of cloud.
Less of autumn, more OF vernal,
More of health and less Of pain;
blessed hope of life eternal,
Every loss greater gain.
|