The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-16
FRIENDS OF
SO YEARS WEB.
Marriage Of Mr., TiIion and Mrs.
GriswoId Like EI0psmsnt.
BRIOEGROOM's ANNOUNCEMENT
Rises Ia Church and Tells the Congregation
That He Has Taken 10 Himself
Better Hall.
ERIOEGRoOM's 5 ANNOUNCEMENT

Reading. Mass, Sept. is.-The whole
town was electrified last Sunday by the
announcement OF the marriage OF the
Rev. Josiah IL Tilton. eighty-six years
Old Baptist clergyman. retired, and Mrs.
Caroline r. Griswoid, aged eiGhty-two
years.
1t was Saturday last that a friendship
OF sixty years standing was thus roman
ticslly cemented, and there is not in
America today a bride and bridegroom
who are having a more perfectly delight
ful honeymoon than Mrs. and Mr.. Tilton
and right here IN beautiful Reading.
MIR Tilton could not reprcss chuckIe
yesterday when he thought OF the little
surprise party he had worked up on
his friends and he was particularly
pleased over the success Of little dra-
matte coup he had engineered on Sunday,
the day following the wedding.
The ceremony had been performed IN
Lynn on Saturday by the Rev. Francis T.
hazlewood. who for fifteen years had
been Mrs. Tilton's pastoy in Bangor. Only
one or two immediate friends Witnessed
the nuptials.
Mr. and plrs. Tilton returned at once
10 Reading and were among the wor-
shippers at the Baptist chlrch at the
forenoon service. The rumor had got
around that the two had been married.
but many were sceptical OF its truth.
Mr.. Tilton desiring to have all doubts
on this ~oint removed. quietly Informed
the minister that he had a little notice
he wished 10 give out after the regular
service was over. and when the proper
time came he arose and read 10 the ex-
pectant congregation the mariage GER
ti.cate.
The spectacle OF the silvery-haired old
clergyman thus announcing his own
wedding 10 a woman only four years his
junior was one that never before was
witnessed in Massachusetts, church. snc
probably never will be again.
When spoken to about his marriage by
a reporter Mr.. Tilton said: Instead OF
being inclined 10 apologize for this step
my wife and have taken ] rejoice in Il.
Why should not two people OF our age
make each other happy in this way II we
want TO? Who is better fitted TO Judge of
these things than a man or woman who
has lived as long as we have?'
In the course OF his long ministry Mr..
, Tilton had taken an active part in most
| OF the great reform movements OF the
period, including the anti-slavery and
| temperance issues. He has personally
known Neal Dow, John B. Cough and
most OF the other noted temperance
workers Of the time. and was actively
identified with the Good Templars order
in its earlier days.
Mrs. Tilton was Caroline Peese, OF Cor
nish, Me. After the death of her husband.
Virgil Griswold, she went 70 Boston.
where for several years she was matron
OF the Young Women's CHRISTIAN associa-
ton.
She had always taken a great interest
in the welfare of the colored race. and
A fter resigning her Boston position spent
year each I'm Wayland Seminary at
Washington and in the colored schools of
Atlanta. sne greatly enjoyed her work
there. and, as she expressed IL 70 the re-
porter. "the blacklist boy in the school
was the one l loved best"