SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 26 June 1913, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

An Interesting Marriage in England. Mis? Gertrude liurke, M.A., the Commonwealth Government delegate to tho I.W.S.A. Congress, was married on Saturday, June 7, to tho Rev. Frederick Spencer, a clergyman of the Church of England, who holds a living nt Burnley, Lancashire. The bridegroom is an ardent champion of woman's suffrage, mud is ono of the honorary secretaries of tho Church League, and the bride has taken an activo interest in the cause. This wedding, which took placo at the Chapel Royal, Savoy (London.), was of nniquo interest, as tho word "obey" and tho ceremony of giving away tho woman was omitted. These alterations were rendered possible by the fact that the Rev. Hugh Chapman," chaplain, was completely independent of episcopal control, and owed obedience and allegiance to no earthly power. Tho bride and bridegroom were to spend their honeymoon at Budapest, where Mrs. Spencer will be treated as one of the most distinguished guests, as she will bo one of the very few Government representatives of woman's suffrage, for the number of countries that havfe accented this principle of woman's franchise as an integral part of their constitution can still be counted on the fingers of ono haijd. v

Reception at the Pioneer Club. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool was present at tho reception which, was held in tho Pioneer Club rooms yesterday afternoon' by members 'of tho club. It was very largely attended, and the Tooms had been charmingly deooratcd with flowers and foliage. Her Excellency, who was received at tho entrance downstairs by tho president, Miss Richmond, and the vice-presidents, was escorted to the "common room," and a brief specoli of welcome was made by Miss Richmond, to which Tier Excellency as briefly replied. A very pleasant programme of music and recitations was presented,, those contributing towards it being Miss Watkins, Miss Hardinge-Maltby, Miss Grace Kennedy, Miss Denhard, and Miss M. Ncv;ton. Her Excellency wore a long and very graceful costume of black Sicilian cloth with a turn-over collar of white lawn and lace, a large black straw hat with black and wliite wings and heavy furs. Mrs. Massey, tihe wife of the Prime' Minister, was pre?cnt, and wore a dark blue coat and skirt, grey feather boa, and

hat with ostrich feathers. Mis* Massey, who accompanied her, was also'in dark blue, a black lint with Oriental trimming and grey furs. Miss Richmond wore black. Mrs. Clement Kirk leaves Petone to-day for Napier, whero she will be tho guest of Mrs. Dennis Hursthouse. A meeting of tho committee of the Girl Peace Scouts will bo held at ten o'clock on Friday morning at No. li Hill Street. Friday, July 18, has been fixed as the date of the Wellington City Council staff ball.

To-nighti the annual tea and entertainment in connection with St. Thomas's Sunday School will take place in the large hall, Riddiford Street. Among those who will 1 contribute to the concert programme are the Misses Eggers, Master R. A. Pankh'urst, Miss Ethel Talbot, Miss Flora Shaw, Mr. Hamilton, and) many others. On Sunday last, in connection with the anniversary, the Rev. 'J. G. Castle, M.A., of Kilbirnie, gave the address ait the morning service, and in the afternoon the Rev. I-'enn, assistant curate of St. Mark's, spoke. In tho evening nt tho church the vicar, Rev. W. Fancourt, M.A.,.was the preacher. ■