No Clergyman

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 305, 16 March 1928, Page 12

No Clergyman

Wedding Waits While Organ Plays ARRIVES AT LAST MOMENT “Where are you now? Where a-a-re you now?” So softly piped the organ in St. Stephen’s Church, Philip Street, Sydney, recently. The “Kashmiri Song” was more appropriate than the organist new. Everything was in readiness for a novel wedding. All of the bridal party arrived in exact order —all, that is to say, except the clergyman, Rev. M. J. O’Doherty. After waiting for about 10 minutes some of the relatives of the bride set out in search parties, while others went to the telephone. Then they asked Rev. F. L. Sehloeffel, who happened to be at St. Stephen’s, if he could help them. He was loth to begin the ceremony as this would mean much alteration of certificates and register. And all the time the pretty bride. Miss Ethel Haffenden, youngest daughter of the late Captain W. B. Haffenden and Mrs. R. L. Haffenden, and the bridegroom, Mr. J. Hines, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Hines, of Bondi, waited and waited. Half an Hour Late At 3.25 Mr. Schloeffel consented to officiate. Fresh papers were prepared, and the wedding was about to begin. Just at that moment, and half ari hour late, Mr. O'Doherty dashed up in a taxi. He had donned his surplice in the car, and, prayer book in hand, ho rushed into the church, refusing to pause for any explanation. That would come later. The wedding then proceeded. The bridegroom, the best man, and the bride’s brother, Mr. Victor Haffenden, who gave her away, all wore cream flannel trousers, double-breasted navy blue coats, black ties with white pencil stripes, and no hats, for it was a summer wedding.