FASHIONABLE MARRIAGES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7145, 24 April 1885, Page 3

FASHIONABLE MARRIAGES.

Sir, — Like a good many others I was induced to visit St. John's Church on two occasions lately by the report that fasionable marriages wore to be solemnsied. Fashionable probably they were ; of that I am no judge, but where the solemnity catae in I am unable to say. Perhaps that was fashionablo too ; at any rate I did not recognise it in its Napier dress. What I actually saw was a mob of well dressed men and women standing on the seats, talking and laughing, and behaving generally in a manner that would not have been permitted in any theatre during a performance. Perhaps it was looked upon in the light of a play, as an evening

pa.per said "the ceremony wa« performed," &c. As a churchman Ido not object to people going to see marriages, but I do protest against each desecration of God's house as was witnessed on both occasions. I can only account for it being permitted by aupposing the authorities had lost their mental balance by the unusual strain of such an event as a fashionable marriage; or can it be that the demoralising effects of the Salvation Army are making themselves felt in our dear old church, as I saw one respected clergyman standing on a seat and grimacing in true Salvation officer style. — I am, &c, Chctbchman. April 23rd, 3886.