SUEZ MAIL ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4562, 7 December 1882, Page 3

SUEZ MAIL ITEMS.

A SALVATION WEDDING. Congress Hall, Clapton, one of the chief centres of the Salvation Army, was on Oct. 12 tho soene of much religious rejoicing. The event immediately inspiring enthusiasm was the marriaje of one of General Booth's sous to a young lady who, like himself, had been a devoted agent of the now revival. As many as 60C0 people were present, the admission being one shilling each person. The wedding party took their seats on the platform, General Booth having his sons and daughters on his right, ond Mrs Booth and the bride's friends on his left. On the raised benches behind, the brass band of the Army, the " cadets " iv their red guernseys, aud about a hundred "Hallelujah lasses," in the exceedingly plain and un* Aesthetic apparel which they affect, were accorded seats. Many of these were provided with tambourines, of which they made effective use when " fire " was called 'for, or orders given •* to hoist the signal." Tho bride, Miss Florence Eleanor Soper, chief of tho staff in Paris, was easily to be distinguished, from the circumstance that she was the only lady uncovered. Tho traditional tulle and orange blossom formed no part of her pleasingly simple trousseau. Her dress was of dark blue silk, with Honiton frilling round the neck. Bhe wore the badge of the Salvation Army on her breast, and a simple flower was her only other ornament. The bridegroom was attired in his ordinary " official " uniform. In Bhort, there was no.speoial dressing whatever for the occasion, with the exception, perhapß, of a few wedding favours among tho gentlemen. One of the " majors " having blown a whistle as a signal to the congregation to bo seated and silent, the " General " stepped forward, and gave out a soDg, " Oh, I'm glad there ie cleansing in the blood." Other Bpeoial "Salvation Wedding Songs " were Bung to popular tuneß. Tho prayers were interrupted very frequently with ories of "Amen!" "Hallelujah!" and other ejaculations. "Gemeral" Booth having referred to the object of the meeting, tho bride and bridegroom stood up on tho platform in front of the assembly, and " Genoral " Booth said : William Bramwell Booth, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordioance in the holy estate of marriage ? Will you love her, oomfort her, honour her, and keep her, in sickness and in health : and never Beck to prevent her doing or giving anything that is in her power to do or give to help the Salvation Army ? and will you promise to use all your influenoe to promote her oonstant and entire self-sacrifice for the salvation of the world, and, forsaking all other, keep only unto her as long as you both shall live ? ' To this the bridegroom answered, "I will." The same words were then repeated to the bride, who, having made a similar answer, was givon away by her father. The two having joined hands, Mr Soper pronounoed a blessing upon the union. " General " Booth then oallod upon the assembly to witness the marriage, and the bridegroom having expressed, acoording to the formulary of the Ohuroh of England, his readiness to take the bride for "belter or worse," the audience several times shouted "Amen !" This was also done in the oase of Miss Soper, and then Mr William Bramwell Booth produced a ring from his pocket and plaoed it upon the bride's finger. " General " Booth having pronounoed the two persons to have been duly and lawfully married, the Rev Mr Ryder, of the Church of England, gave his blessing to the unien. Addresses wero delivered by the "General" and Mrs Booth.