SALVATION ARMY WEDDING.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 8

SALVATION ARMY WEDDING.

Dedication services were held in the Salvation Army's Fortress, Dowling street, on Sunday morning. The announcement that a Salvation wedding would take place caused a very, large number of persons to assemble in the fortress in the afternoon. The proceedings .were commenced by Major and Mrs Evans singing a duet, and the Major .then briefly addressed those present. He referred to the importance of the occasion, and expressed the hope that the ceremony might be made on& that the happy couple would look back upon with both pleasure and satisfaction. The last time a- ceremony of thi3 kind "was performed , the two now to be united were 'spectators — watching, no doubt, very carefully io see how " it was done,; — and the excellent fashion the Salvation Army had of. doing the thing no doubt determined them in doing likewise. AJ '[ good deal of humour" was introduced by the .Major into his remarks,- at the conclusion of 'which he called upon Staff-captain Bishop to read a chapter from the Scriptures, bearing upon, the duties of husband and wife, and; _ containing an • exhortation to each. •-CaptainDunkerley then sang a solo suitable to the occasion, accompanying hirnseli on the banjo, and the band (which shows a wonderful advance in its playing) performed a selection. The ceremony proper then commenced, the wedding party advancing to the front of the stage, and the Army's banner being suspended over the happy couple: Major Evans, who performed the ceremony, read the - conditions under which the Army consented to join persons together in the bonds of wedlock, and to which the contracting parties had to assent. The responses to the questions by Br&ther John Smith and Sister Esther Anderson, the bridegroom and bride, were none too audible, but none the less binding, and the two were called upon to clasp hands while the final vows . were taken, and the ring placed upon the bride's finger. This having been done, Major Evans declared the couple to be man and wife, and called upon God to bless them. The party then, resumed their seats, amid a shower of rice from the gallery, and addresses by, members of the Army followed. Extreme simplicity marked the whole of the proceedings, which, while conducted with becoming decorum, were not entirely devoid of hiimour at times. In the evening the usual religious ser-. vices were- held.