The Washington herald., 1916-08-07
YOUR WEDDING DAY
And the Famous Men and Women
Who Have Shared II.
August Richard Routh and Martha
Winter.
BY MARY MARSHALL.

Among the brides who have chosen Au-
gust as their wedding day, there is
none, perhaps. OF greater distinction than
Martha Winter. the Quaker missionary
who married Richard Routh one hun
dred and fifty years ago today.
However in the mind OF Martha
Routh, her wedding day was not August
:. but ''ye seventh day OF ye eighth
month" For among the simple religious
folk with whom she was associated the
very name August-named after the Ro-
man emperor Augustus-was too suE-
gestive Of pagan times and worldly
glory. Sunday. among these folk. was
called simply the first day since the
name by which We know would have
been suggestive OF pagan days when the
solar diety received mems alteration.
Although Martha Winter was an un-
sophisticated young woman when she
was married. she possessed all the dig
nifty and gravity and sedatencss Of a
woman OF much wider experience. In
her heart of hearts no doubt she ap-
preached the great event with the same
sort of intensity Of interest and nutter-
ings OF the heart that other brides feel
But Martha was far too well disciplined
to show it and in the diary which she
! kept and which was later published, Civ
ing a really interesting account OF her
I missionary labors. she simply states the
/ bare fact Of her marriage at Noting
| ham, England. We look in vain for any
description OF the event or comment on
| the character or charms Of Richard
I Routh. But Quaker folk seldom had
many words to spare on matters OF mar
riage or sentiment. and this in spite-or
perhaps bCCauSe-Of the fact that they
were usually very happy.
| At a time when. among most people
marriages were largely matters Of con-
! venienCe. and when women eNerted very
little individual choice in the matter
| especially If they were OF fairly good sta,
/ tion in life-the QuakerS seemed to real.
ize the necessity OF basiug marriages or
( love. rather than convenience. And wheT
other fathers round about them were plan
| ming their daughters marriag ges with only
| worldly considerations in view. Quaker
fathers left this choice more largely tC
the young women themselves.
Martha began her active nfe when, a
the age Of seventeen, she became teach
er in Friends school at Nottingham
| When she was twenty-four she was pro
NOTED to the position Of principal anC
when she was thirty she was "aCknowl
| dyed a minister" At the time OF hel
marriage she gave up teaching to devote
herself entirely 10 the ministry.
Her husband was thoroughly in sym
pathy with her work and together they
Travelled much in Europe and America
/ where she maGe several missionary tours
1t is said that in all the years Of her mis-
| siOnary ministry she never once failed Il
preach when she had promised 10 do so
Her last visit to America was made il
1904 when she was sixty-one years old
Her husband, the companion of her Ions
and active life. died in New York city
Mrs ROUth remained in this country til
the next year, when she returned to Eng
land. where she wrote and preached oC
LsSionauy until her death at the age q
| seventy-fOur.
tCopyriEht l96N