St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-06-15
ALVORD-FAIRBANKS.

South church, when Rev. James Church AL
word OF Woonsocket, R. l., was married to
Miss Lucy, eldest daughter OF Prof. and
Mrs. Henry Fairbanks. Many friends
from here and elsewhere witnessed the
ceremony and the church was well filled
with interested spectators.
Promptly at high noon the bridal
march from Wagner's Lohengrin sounded
forth and the wedding party advanced
up the aisles to meet the officiating
clergyman, Rev. DR.. Edward T. Fair
banks, who stood directly under the pull
pit. The groom, with Clinton Alvord.
came up the south aisle and the rest ad.
vanced in pairs up the north aisle in this
order: The six ushers, the flower girls,
the bridesmaids, the maid of honor. the
bride upon her fathers arm. The best
man was Clinton Alvord of Worcester
Mass, brother Of the groom. The
ushers were Francis H. Staples Of Wor.
cester, Osborne Leach of Salem, Mass,
George Read of Woonsocket, Prof.
Arthur Fairbanks of New Haven Conn.,,
Henry J. Fuller of Montreal, Charles W..
Ruiter of st. Johnsbury. The brides
maids were Miss Charlotte Fairbanks. a
sister of the bride, and Miss Mary Cone
Of Manchester. Miss Marion Fairbanks,
another sister Of the bride, was the maid
of honor and the two flower girls were
Miss Dorothy Fairbanks, and Miss Eliz-
abeth D. Merrill. AS the party reached
the platform the bride advanced to meet
the groom and the Others arranged
themselves on either side of the contract
ing parties. The marriage service was
both unique and impressive, the origin
ality of the brides pastor making the
service one that will ever be remembered
by all present. The frequent illusions to
scriptural Incidents and scenes, with a
touch Of local and personal memories,
added much to a most beautiful, yet
simple ceremony. The bride was given
away by her father, who assisted in the
service by offering prayer.
The original idea of having lilies of the
valley as the special floral decoration
was we'll carried out both at the church
and the house. Under the artistic hand
of Mr., Gentry of the Pinehurst con
servatories, the South church was beau
tifully decorated for the occasion. Th'
pulpit was overarched with palms ant
potted ferns and hydrangeas were effect
lively massed beneath. On the pulpit
itself was rare orchid. The organ loft
was banked with ferns and palms.
For an hour before the ceremony the
church organ was played by the organ
list, B. Frank Harris, and in many OF the
selections he was ably assisted by violin
accompaniments by N. r. Young. Mr.
Harris repertoire was much enjoyed by
the audience and his part of the pro-
gramme contributed much to the success
of the whole ceremony.
The toilette OF the ladies in the bridal
party was much admired. The bride
was gowned in white satin with pearl
trimmings on waist and sleeves. She
wore a train and the bridal veil was
crowned with orange blossoms. She
carried in her hand large bouquet o
lilies Of the valley. The bridesmaids wore
white organdie over pale green, and
carried brides roses and lilies of the
valley The maid of honor was
dressed in pure white and carried
pink roses. The two flower girls wert
dressed in white with green ribbons and
carried baskets of lilies and roses.
At the close of the service at the church
the organist played Mendelssohn's we'd
ding march and the party advanced
down the south aisle led by Rev. and
Mrs James c. Alvord. I.. IL,
At o'clock wedding breakfast was
served at Elmwoode to about rs of the
friends and relatives. The spacious
rooms of the house were beautifully
decorated for the festive occasion. The
broad stairway was effectively trimmed
with asparagus fern and white ribbons
and the gas fixtures were, similarly
adorned. In the drawing room there
were palms and a profusion of brida
wreath, orchids and lilies of the valley
The guests were first allowed to inspect
the wedding presents in one of the room:
upstairs and these were greatly admired
AS they returned to the drawing roou
they were presented to Mr.. and Mrs
Alvord and hearty congratulations wer,
extended for long and useful married
life. The collation. was served from two
tables. The table in the hall was pre-
sided over by Mrs. Robert N. Fairbank.
and Mrs. Frank H. Brooks. In tn,
dining room Mrs. Arthur Fairbanks ant
Mrs. Philip H. Stone presided. Walter
H. Merrill of Washington and Carl H
Turner of st. Johnsbury assisted the
ushers both at the church and at tn,
breakfast. Miss Luella Merrill of st
Johnsbury served lemonade at the house
The bride cut the customary bridal cak,
at the close OF the breakfast. The coupl,
left on the afternoon train for the Whit,
Mountains, leaving home amid shove
of rice and good wishes.
The guests from abroad included Mis-.
Maria Dewey, Mrs. Staples and Mr.. an,
Mrs. Clinton Alvord of Worcester; Mrs
Daniel Richardson of Chatham, Mass
Miss Ella Paine and Mrs. Stiles @
Woonsocket; DR.. and Mrs. ]. T. Herric
OF Springfield, Mass; Mrs. Ashton
Willard of Boston; Mrs. Frank H. Heal
Of Milford, N. H.; Mrs. Robert N. Fail
banks of New York; Prof. and Mrs
Arthur Fairbanks and Miss Mary Fail