Year: 1867

Recently, not many miles distant


from Washington, a couple whom we


will indicate as Mr.. j. 90 and Miss


H, were to be married, and the


somewhat slowgoing Elder - was


called upon to perform the ceremony.


The parties all being ready, the Elder


proceeded as follows: Gentlemen and


ladies, hold in my hand authority


from the State of Maryland to unite


Mr.. j and Miss H in the


bonds of matrimony. Doubtless you


all expect some sort of ceremony this


evening, but my voice is weak, my


health is bad, and | have had disease


of the throat for year or more


Different churches have different forms,


and different countries have different


forms; for my part have no FORM


/ do not remember any form. In some


countries it is not so easy to get mar


ried as in this free and happy country,


and in some States they marry with


out license. In some countries it is


required that the marriage shall take


place at the hour of midnight; just as
the clock strikes twelve the company
take their lamps and go forth to meet
the bridegroom, and then they all go
into the house and the door is shut,
and no one is allowed to enter in after
ward. Yes, my friends, the door is


shut, and no one is allowed to enter
in afterward. Yes, my friends the
door is shut, and if you come then
You may cry your eyes out, and you
may wear your knee out praying, but
you'll never get in, for the door is shut.
But this is not the case in our once
free and happy country. AS l said
before, my lungs are weak, and / must
make the ceremony as short as posi-
BILE, My friends, it gives me much
pleasure to see young and loving
couple like this, with their hearts
united in the bonds of affection,
come to be Joined in mar
riage; and you must recollect
my young friends that you cannot live
together always-one of you will be
taken by the cold, icy fingers of death
and laid in the dark and narrow grave,
and the other will be left to weep over
the dear remains. Marriage is an old
institution it is spoken Of in the first
of the Bible. 1t is an old institution
it is an honorable institution; it is a
moral institution. All of you like it,
and you all encourage it--all of the
young people like it. The old would
like to be young again that they might
once more feel the influence ofCupid's
darts. Come ON all of you. / do not
remember any ceremony, but | reckon
/ know enough to join these two to-
gether. / suppose before proceed
must ask the usual questions. Is there
any one present who knows any just
cause why Mr. j. and Miss H., may
not lawfully be joined in the bonds Of
matrimony2 (A:ter pause) No one
says anything, so suppose there is no
reason. Mr.. J. and Miss H., will |
you please give your right hand9 Mr.. |
j. will you take the lady whose hand |
you hold to be your lawful and we'd
ded wife Will you love, cherish and
protect her5 "Yes, sir" Miss,
will you take the gentleman whose
right hand you hold, to be your law
full and welded husbandg Will you
love, and honor and obey him in all |
his reasonable requests9 ? Il will"
i now pronounce you husband and
wife, man, and wife, or mate and help
mate, which l much prefer" The
ceremony was concluded with long
prayer, in which he prayed for all
mankind, collectively and individually, |
and at the end the contracting parties
and the guests Joined with considera-
BILE haartiness in the "Amen."