The times., 1901-05-05
WHEN QUAKER MAIDS We'd
She and Her Fiance Must Publish
Their Intentions
II Their Choice Is Approved at pass
Meeting They May Then Name the
''Wniters,v Who Are to Attend
Them on Their wedding Day

Them on Their wedding Day.
The influence of time has wrought so
many changes in the dress of the young
people of the Society of Friends that
there is little in the apparel of the Quaker
maiden one meets on the streets of Phil
adolphia today 10 distinguish her from
the other feminine passers-by and still
less to denote her kinship to the great
grandmother who as a prim little lady
walked these same streets in the days
of William Penn. Scattered throughout
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, however, are
small communities settled almost exclu-
sively by members of the Society of
Friends-quiet peaceful settlements where
one generation succeeds another, with few
migrations and still fewer marriages into
the outside world. 1t is in these hooks,
remote from the current of constant evo-
luton, that there is still a strict observ-
ance of many of the customs of dress and
life so inseparaDly associated with the
Friends faith.
The marriage of a Quaker girl in these
parts. says the st. Louis STAR is at
tended with more ceremony than any
other social event in her life. The en-
gagged couple will, as a rule, simply con-
fide the fateful secret to a few of their
particular friends, but in some instances
the engagement is announced by cards
The preliminary step taken by the young
people in conformity with the marriage
customs of the society is the publishing
OF their intentions, as it is called. This
must be done at the second monthly meet
ing preceding the day set for the we'd
ding. The clerk of the meeting is pre-
sented with q written statement regard
ing the prospective wedding, and this is
read aloud by the clerks in the mems and
womens divisions respectively. In each
division a committee is appointed, the
mems committee 20 investigate whether
there be any cause from the standpoint
of the groom why the marriage should
not be permitted, and the feminine COM
mittee to perform similar service with
reference to the prospective bride. As a
general thing, the committee is not ac-
tive but simply exists to receive objec-
tions if there be any.
At the next monthly meeting these COM
mittees report, and if the verdict be fav-
orable the young couple report to the
passing meeting" another formality al
most as embarrassing. The couple first
enter the woman's side of the meeting
house, passing to the front, where they
remain standing for a few moments, while
each, in turn, repeats the words:
Friends, ] continue my intentions OF
marriage with -" Then both pass to
the mems side of the building, where the
ceremony is repeated. The young man
then escorts the young lady to the door
on the woman's side of, the house and
finally resumes his own place. Under or |
dfnary circumstances the wedding IS set |
for the next Fourth Day-the date OF the |
regular meeting; but if it be especially |
desirable TO have another day, request !
to that effect is presented when the bride |
and groom-elect pass meeting, and d /
special meeting is appointed for the day |
desired.
The eventful day is preceded by weeks |
of preparation. The service at the meet |
ing-house is public, the special guests be |
ing provided with reserved seats, and IN |
Vitations are also extended to them to |
attend the reception at the brides home. |
Two sets of walters or attendants are |
necessary and usually there are double |
that number, The attire of the young !
ladies is in harmony with the costume of |
the bride, who may wear any plain color. |
though white is the usual choice, with |
white slippers and gloves and a small |
bonnet of white embroidered chiffon.
The carriages of the bridal party are |
timed to arrive a little later than the |
usual meeting hour. The couple acting /
as first walters lead the bridal process |
sion, followed by the bride and groom, |
and they in turn are fallowed by the other /
attendants. The party enters the door on /
the side of the edifice occupied by the |
women and proceed to the front where
special seats have been reserved for them. |
The bride and groom sit facing the CON !
gregation, while directly opposite them |
are the walters. To the right of |
the bride is seated her own mother, and |
next, the mother of the groom. Next to !
the groom is seated his own father, and |
just beyond the father of the bride.
The bridal party sit in silence for from
a half to three-quarters of an hour. the |
young man serving as first waiter" be- |
ing expected to aid the groom by giving
some slight signal when the allotted time
has expired Al the expiration of this In
terval, the bride and groom arise, and the
groom, taking the right hand of the bride.
he Lord and before this assembly, I take
to be my wife, promising with Di-
vine assistance, TO be unto her a loving |