LATE HOUR MARRIAGES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1991, 12 July 1880, Page 3

LATE HOUR MARRIAGES.

In the Ladies Latter of the “S. A. Advertiser ” we find the following :—There is not a very hopeful prospect that the Bill will be passed which is to be laid before the new Parliament to authorise the celebration of marriages at a later hour than is at present lawful, for many and obvious reasons. The movement has the unanimous suffrages of the whole of the fair sex, but alas! the clergy resolutely set their faces against infringement of the old law, while the Archbishop of Canterbury stoutly declared that he will sanction no more of such ceremonies as that performed by special license in London a few days back. The show—for it could hardly bo called anything else resembled a promenade concert or brilliant ball-room pageant, rather than a solemn religious ceremony ; an idea further borne out by the issue of tickets of admission to what has not been inaptly styled a raree show, desecrating the sacred edifice in which it was held. The archbishop and his clerical subordinates were terribly scandalised by the sight of the ladies in full evening dress, with jewels flashing on their bare necks and arms, to which the brilliantly lighted building gave increased and dazzling effect. It is very unfortunate that such individual displays of vanity and folly should be the means of prejudicing those in authority against social reforms that would benefit the wiser people who would not abuse their license. I am now very much afraid that the injudicious proceedings at St. Peter’s Onslow Square will extinguish every chance of our getting postprandial marriages legalised, and the early and somewhat inconvenient ceremony before noon will, I expect, continue to be made imperative by law.”