Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-12-07

tokens. In ancient times Ii was the
custom to perform the rite OF betrothal
apart from that of marriage, but now
the latter is performed Immediately
after the former. AS rule both rites
must be performed in church in the
presence of witnesses, but in an excep-
tional case the rites may be performed
In private house. In the rite of be-
trothal the priest, preceded by Tampa
dary, makes his appearance in the
church, holding in his hands cross
and testament, which he lays on the
lectern. Then he approaches the bride
and groom, who are already standing
In the aisle, and blesses them thrice
with two lighted candles, which he
hands to them, and then conducts them
back to the lectern swinging a censer
When he reaches the lectern the cere-
mony begins. First he takes the rings,
which he has already received from the
bride and groom in advance of the
service. With the golden ring he
makes the sign of the cross thrice
above the grooms head. with the
words, "The servant of God N, is be-
trothed to the handmade of God, N. in
the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost This he
repeats thrice, then slips the ring on
the fourth finger of the groom's right
hand. The same proceeding is re-
peated with the brides silver ring
After the betrothal, 1t is prescribed by
the canons of the church that the
sponsor-the groom's best man-shall
change the rings thrice from one to
the other, SO that the brides silver
ring remains with the groom, and the
grooms golden ring remains with the
bride. The rings are given in token of
the lifelong union into which they
are entering.
Next comes the rite of marriage.
When this stage is reached the priest
asks them each separately whether
they have spontaneous wish and the
firm intention to contract the con-
jugal union with each other and
whether they have not promised to
contract that union with some one
else. On receiving their affirmative
answer to the first question: and their
negative to the second. the priest pro-
(.
This rite begins with blessing the
kingdom of the most holy Trinity, and
with the great Ectenia. To this Ec-
tenia are added petitions on behalf of
the new consorts, that they be granted
| blessing upon their marriage, chasti
ty, well-favored children and joy in
them; a blameless life, an unfading
crown of glory in the heavens, and an
abundance of the good things of the
earth, SO that they may be enabled to
assist the needy; that the Lord may
help the wife to obey her husband, and
the husband to be the head of his wife;
that he may remember also the parents
who reared them, as parents prayers
make firm the foundations of houses.
Next the priest puts a crown on the
head of the groom, repeating the
j words: The servant OF God N, is
crowned for the handmade of God, ~.
in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost This he
repeats, placing the crown on the
| head Of the bride, after which he
blesses them thrice, saying, oh, Lord,
our God, with glory and honor crown
| them
After the ceremony of marriage and
the blessing a psalm is sung, in which
j the essence of the sacrament of matri-
mony is set forth: Thou hast set upon
| their heads crowns of precious stones;
/ they asked life of thee, and thou CAV
est it them After this lessons from
the gospels and epistle are read The
| epistle lesson speaks of the Importance
and of the mutual duties Of the con-
sorts; the gospel tells of Christ's
presence at the wedding at Cana in
Galilee. The readings are followed by
the triple Ectenia and the Ectenia of
supplication, ending with the chant
ing of the Lords prayer. Then a cup
of wine is brought. The priest blesses
\ the cup and presents it alternately to
the husband and wife to drink from,
three times to each. This common cup
1 signifies that they must live in an in