Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1882-10-14 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SALVATION ARMY MAERIAGE. Clapton Hall, which holds about 5,000 persons, was on Thursday morning crowded by members of the Salvation Army and others to witness the marriage of William Bramwell Booth (the eldest son of " General " Booth) to Miss Florence Helena Soper, who has for some time been engaged with one of the Misses Booth in the Salvation Army work in France. Special "Salvation Wedding Songs" were sung to popular tunes; and, at the suggestion of the "General," what were considered the most pointed sentiments were rendered with" hoisted signals "—i.e., with the waving of banners, flags, and handkerchiefs. The prayers were interrupted very frequently with cries of "Amen 1" " Hallelujah!" and other ejactulations. "General" Booth having referred to the object of the meeting, the bride and bridegroom stood up on the platform in front of the assembly, and "General" Booth said "William Bramwell Booth, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of marriage' Will you love her, comfort her, honour her, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and never seek terprevent her doing or giving anything that is in her power to do or give to help the Salvation Army? And will you promise to use all your influence to promote her constant and entire self-sacrifice for the salvation of the world; and, forsaking all other, keep only unto her so long as you both shall live ?" To this the bridegroom answered, "I will." The same words were then repeated to the bride, who, having made a similar answer, was given away , by her father. The two haying joined hands, Mr Soper pronounced a blessing upon the union. "General" Booth then called upon the assembly to witness the marriage, and the bridegroom, having expressed, according to the formulary of the Church of England, his readiness to take the bride for "better or worse," the audience several times shouted "Amen 1" This was also done in the case of Miss Soper, and then Mr William Booth produced a ring from his pocket and placed it upon the bride's finger. " General " Booth having pronounced the two persons to have been duly and lawfully married, the Reverend Mr Ryder, of the Church of England, gave his blessing to the union. Addresses- were delivered b 1 the " General " and Mrs Booth. "General" Moth, in reply to critics, stated that all the money contributed for the Salvation Army movement was placed under trust, and would be strictly and legally used for the purposes intended. The marriage, he said, was a guarantee of the permanence of the movement, for, although there was nothing hereditary about the leadership, the probabilities were that when he passed away the chief of the staff—Mr Bramwell Booth, who was loved by all the "Army "—would carry on the undertaking on its present lines. If it was not carried on in its present spirit and system of organization the sooner it died the better, and he (the " General ") would be glad to come down from above to be present at the funeral. Other addresses of congratulation, prayer, and praise followed.  Mr Witti, an explorer in the service of the British North Borneo Company, has been treacherously murdered in Borneo by "Headhunters," who also killed several of his native attendants.