A SALVATION WEDDING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4478, 24 July 1893, Page 2

A SALVATION WEDDING.

Interesting Proceedings. The first wedding in connection with the Salvation Army at Master-, ton, was Celebrated yeßterday, and an unusual amount of interest was taken in the ceremony. Major Vinoe, and an able staff wore present from bead* quarters, and in parading the streets in tbe afternooD, at tbe head of tho local contingent of soldiers and band, announced tar and wide tbe welcome of everyone to the" Hallelujah Wedding." Long before three o'clock, the Barracks in Dixou-street were thronged with an expectant audience, composed in the front Beats mainly of ladies, and in the rear portion of the building was all the noisy element of the town. " Silver-coin " was tbe pass-word for admission, but ' thiß was no deterrant to tho vast | number of sight-seeing spectators, and when the proceedings commenced, the BUUDIHO WAS CROWDEU tosufTocution, Standing room even was a!i a premium, and every nook and corner was occupied, On the raissd 1 platform, the Major and his soldiors, arrayed in their bright uniforms,, opened the programme by singing a | joyoußsong, the refrain being taken . up in a. very lusty mannor by the young men with lsrgo lungs at the baok. The stamping of feet, the clap- , ping of hands, the latching and joking of tho crowd, made onoimagino it ' was a rowdy theatre rather than an Army Barracks on a Sunday aftor- ' noon, Tho smart and pithynigjjk) 1 cal remarks, from the wl^Wlfc I Hall, in reference to those crnae platform, created roars of laughter, and the efforts of officers of the Arm; \to suppress the larrikinism was utterly without avail, A few well- , meant remarks by the Major, interspersed with interruptions'by tbe audi- [ enoe, preoeded a singing—or rather ' shouting-competition between the saved and the unsaved, Needless to say the great lung power of tbe latter won the day, This was only, as the Major remarked, to get the audienoe into good humor, and the voices tuned, for a hearty reception when the BRIDAL FAIB appeared in view. After a few silent moments, a side door opened, and the young bride, Miss Emily Bentley, attended by four little bridesmaids and the groomsman, Mr Fred Falkner, appeared on tbe scene, Then commenced the reception, a sight indescribable; the music of the Band, tbe " Hallelujahs" ol the Army, and tho cheering of tbe crowd, intermingling in deafening discord. Amusing —and at times impudent—remarks were at once levelled at poor" Fred," but were withal taken gracefully and good naturedly. Quiet'was with great difficulty restored, and the quaint Salvation marriage ceremony duly performed by the Major, tha long and trying ordeal was successfully carried out, notwithstanding tho many difficulties and frequent ejaculations of the noisy crowd. Tho groomsman spoke his lines dearly and distinctly, but the bride appeared nervous, and was often called upon to " speak up," amid other like phrases. The ceremony was at last completed, the contract being sealed with a kiss, and loud obeering once more BENT TBE AIR, the orowd alike hurraying for the Major, the Captain, the happy couple and indeed, everyone, the excited ones could possibly think of. A ruah was then made for the door, and after a deal of scrambling and souffiing, open air was re«|jsevery« one being met with a perfect storm of rioe at the doorway. ThedUtributora • were not content to wait for the wedded pair, but treated everyone alike, and tbey seemed to have an unlimited supply, For nearly an hour, the Barracks were surrounded, and the streets lined with hundreds of people, At last, the couple made a gallant attempt to leavo the Barracks for the Captain's bouse, but were stopped enroule by tbe mass, and perfectly deluged with rice, With great difficulty tboy were rescued by " brothers" and "sistora," and the'' haven was ultimately reached. 014 boots were then thrown in at tile' window, and it was no'. door and window in thehouserV shut and locked, that the crowd- dis's persed. So ended tbe first " Halle, lujah " wedding celebrated mMißteiton, :•. .-. . ; -.-■'!.■.