The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-07
Frederick William and Duchess
Cecilia Arc United
CEREMONY is VERY SIMPLE
After Supper the Ancient Torchlight
Dance Is Conducted, Which Is
Unique In the House Of
Hohenzollern.


William and Duchess Cecilia of Mecklen-
burg -schwerin were married in the pal
ace chapel this afternoon when the clock
on the plaza marked 5, and batteries here
and in every garrison town in Prussia
and in every sea where German warships
fioated began firing a twenty-one gun
salute at the same moment.
In the chapel one of the most distin-
guished assemblages that could be gath
cred in Europe saw the simple wedding
service of the Lutheran church. Some
OF the sixty to seventy members of the
royal families present from German and
foreign states were the Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria, representing EN-
peror Francis Joseph; the Grand Duke
Michael of Russia Prince Henry. consort
of the Queen of The Netherlands the
Duke and Duchess of Aosta, representing
the King and Queen of Italy; Prince Ar
thur of Connanghr, representing Great
Britain; Prince and Princess Albert of
Belgium; the Duke of oporto, represent
ing Portugal; Prince Ferdinand of Rou-
mania and the Crown Prince of Den
mark and Greece. These all stood in a
wide circle around the altar, for there
regard to rank, were the members Of
the foreign embassies with Ambassa-
dor Tower and Mrs. Tower among them;
the cabinet ministers. number of adj
mirals, the commanders of army corps,
and many persons of the high nobility.
More Magnificent Costumes.
The Crown Princess, for she was also
Crown Princess by civil right, came in on
the arm of the Crown Prince. She was
wearing a wreath of fresh myrtle on her
head, over which was small crown of
diamonds and rubies in a gold frame,
placed there by the Empress. triangle
of diamonds rested on the front of her
low-cut bodice and around her neck was
a necklace of large diamonds. The we'd
ding dress was of Russian silver brocade,
with a train four and half yards In
length and two and a quarter yards wide,
attached to the shoulders. Four maids
of honor in dresses of pale blue silk, the
Crown Princess favorite color, carried
the train and behind them walked two
pages. The bridal veil was of old Brus-
sells lace.
The Crown Prince wore the light blue
uniform of the First Foot Guards, with
major insignia and his decorations. He
carried his helmet in his hand.
Behind the bride and groom came the
Empress on the arm of the Grand Duke
of Mecklenburg-Schw brother of the
bride, and the Emperor with the Grand
Duchess Anastasia, mother of the bride.
These and other members of the royal
family stood on the right of the altar.
The choir sang God Give His Angels
Charge Concerning Thee" set to music
by Mendelssohn. This text was carved
in the cradle of the Crown Prince. The
congregation Joined in singing the pro-
gramme concluding with the familiar
hymn, Praise the Master"
DR.. Ryander Performs Ceremony.
Dr. Dryander, the court chaplain, with
nine of the cathedral clergy standing
near him, began the service. 1t is the
privilege Of the pastor, according to the
Lutheran rite to read either one of the
several admonitory addresses to the bridal
couple or to make one of his own. DR..
Dryander elected to say aside the book,
taking his subject the book of Ruth,
cnapter l, verses l6 and II, beginning;
For whittier thou goest 1 will CO." etc.
DIR. Dryander spoke briefly on the beauty
of love, the large responsibilities resting
on the youthful pair, their need for the
support of faith and spiritual vision The
pastor then asked his imperial hghness IL
he tool of Gods hands to have and
to hold according to Gods word and will
her highness Cecilia?
The crown prince answered: YES"
l'he same question was addressed to
the duchess with the additional ques-
ton of "and obey to which she also
answered yes" These were the only
responses.
kisses Hand of Princess.
Dr. Dry ander then read the prayer
closing the ceremony, which had taken
precisely twenty minutes.
DR. Dryander shook hands with the
Crown Prince and kissed the hands of
the Crown Princess. He then presented
the bridal couple with a bible, ornamen-
tally bound. The Emperor kissed the
bride on both cheeks, and then kissed his
son, the Empress doing likewise.
The bridal party slowly moved out,
followed by the princes and princesses,
but all others waited in the chapel which
had become very hot, owing to the four
hundred candles that had been burning
for half an hour, until the reception be-
gan in the white hall adjoining the
chapel.
Beside those present at the wedding.
several hundred others had been invited
to the reception, each person bowling to
tho Crown Prince and Crown Princess. on
either side of whom stood other royal
personages. The dresses. jewels and uni
form contributed to a most brilliant pic
turc.
Unique TorchIght Dance.
After supper had been served torch
light dance. unique practice at we'd
dings in the house of Hohenzollern for
centuries, was performed in a modified
form by twelve pages, bearing thick cam
dies about two and a half feet tall.
The Crown Prince took the hand of the
Crown Princess and walked slowly be-
hind the pages, keeping step to the music
around a quadrangle formed by women
standing ten feet deep along the sides of
the drawing room, which Is 105 by so feet,
all bowing as the bridal couple passed.
The Emperor then lead the Crown Prin-
cess and the Crown Prince led his mother
around the same walk Next the Crown
Princess took each of the other prin-
cesses around the hall, occasionally sew
era-l at time, so that precedence might
no. be disregarded. Once the Grand
Duke Michael of Russia, the Arch Duke
Franz Ferdinand of Austria, Crown Prince
Gustaf Of Sweden and the Duke of Oporto
weer walking with the Crown Princess
at the same time.
rrlsa ftrncfion came fo n cIose after q