A "Salvationist" Wedding at Manchester.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 77, 29 August 1885, Page 4

A "Salvationist" Wedding at Manchester.

The Manchester branches of the Salvation Army held a demonstration recently. An interesting item m the proceedings was a marriage, which took, place m the morning m the Free j Trade Hall. Both parties are w«ll j known otlicrvs ia the Army, and both J have attained high rank. The husband happily is a staff captain and the wile only <m ordinary captain; it might have had its inconveniences if the wife had been the senior m the service. As it is the lady phanges her name but does not loose . her rank. Sho was Captain Clark: now she ia Mm Captain Lei>. The lady belongs to the Burnley section of the Arinv and the gentleman to the Manchester branch. Earlier m the morning the parties attended at a registrar's office and were joined together according to law. There was a large company to witness the ceremony according to the rites of the Army, the area of ths ball being about full. A small charge was made for admission, and m the course of the proceedings there was a collection. The.se no doubt were necessary to corer the expensed. The ceremony was conducted on the platform by Mr Bramwell Booth, " chief of the stat!" The brid« and tho bride groom sat on either side of their superior officer. A sister of the bride acted as bridesmaid, aivl the bridegroom had fur best man Rta(FCaptaia Burcheit, of the Manchester Division. The bride wore a dark blue dress, and appeared without the extraordinary bonnet which distinguishes the sisters of the Army from all other women. The bridegroom was m the uniform of a captain. By way of prelude there was some singing and praying. The, chief of the staff then read passagas of Scriptuie appropriate to the occasion, and explained m detail the peculiar vows under which members of the Army marry. It is perhaps worthwhile to indicate what these vows are. Ln the first declaration the parties say: — " We do not seek this marriage simply to please ourselves, bub because we believe it will enable us to better seive and please God and work m the interests of the Salvation Army." In the second they promise "never to allow their marriage to lessen m any way their (devotion to Him or His Kingdom." They then undertake that one will " never try to prevent the other doing or giving anything that is m his or her power to do or give to help the kingdom of God and the Salvation Army." They also promise "to use all their influence' with each other to promote their constant, and entire self-sacrifice for the salvation of the world." Their home they undertake always to regard and arrange " as a Salvation Army officers' headquarters, and to train .everyone m it to faithful service m the Army.'' Whether tog-ether or apart they are "Always to do their utmost as soldiers of the balvation Army, and never 10 allow it to be injured or hindered without doing their best to prevent or overcome such injury or hindrance." The last of the seven conditions is: " Should either of us cense to bean efficient soldier owing to sickness or death or any other cause, we engage lhat the remaining one shall continue to tho bt-st of his or her ability to fulfil these sacred promises." The conditions having been rend' over, both parties said they were willing to abide by them. They stood up then and each declared that there was no lawful impediment to the union. Thereupon the chief of the staff asked Oaptain Lee if he was willing, to have '* this woman*' to be his wedded wife under the conditions that had been recited. Captain Lee .said he was willing, whereupon the !>est man called for a " volley" which was heartily given. " Captain" Clark was asked if she was willing. to have " this man," and, answering that she was, the best mau called for another "volley." It vras puc to the best man whether he was ready to give the gallant captain away. "I am," he replied, "and God bless her." The paities now joined hands, and the bridegroom called upon everybody present to witness that he took Eliza Enn'ly Clark to be " his lawful wedded wife and continual comrade m this war." The declaration was tvm.le upon Ins honor as a true soldier of Je«ns Christ. The bride baring made a similar declaration, tfce chief of the RtafF gave a ring to the bridegroom, saying, " I hand you this ring to put on your wife's finger as a sign that tho Salvation Army looks upon this as a Salvation wedding." The enthusiustic b.est man came m here with another " volley." In putting the ring on the bride's Ongor the bridegroom said he did so "as a continual sign that we are married under the solemn pledges we have this day given to live and light for God arid the Salvation Army." The chief of the staff then declared his two captain-- to be man and wife. Eveiybody said " Amen," and the enthusiasti • best man finished the ceremony by kissing the bride. Two things remained to be done. The chief of the stuff cal'ed upon the bridegroom to speak. It seemed cruel to ask him to bold forth so close upon the heels of such a ceremony: tut the captain was equal to the occasion, and made a neat little speech, prefaced by a quotation from the hymn, "My heart is full of singing." if the ' bridegroom was equal to the occasion so also was the bride J A captain m her cvrn right, she did not seem to find it a hardship to " say a woid" while th >. blushes were still upon lier ohee , Both capteins expressed their great love for the work of the At mv and their determination to make their family life m every way secondary to it. In the afterm.on ther was a procession of the Salvationists through the streets,