A Military Marriage
On Wednesday evening April 18th Grace Episcopal
Church was the scene of a beautiful and novel marriage, the contracting parties
being Miss Sarah Frances Gaylord the beautiful daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.H.
Gaylord, and Mr. W.T. Nurney, one of the popular young drummers of Company “E.”
The church was artistically decorated and all the attendants
were military men in full uniform. At 8 o’clock the bridal party arrived at the
church and entered as follows: the Color Sergeant entered the rear door and
marched to the center of the church where he held the Stars and Stripes between
two large arches of evergreens. Following the flag came the drummers beating a
soft yet lively quick-step march; they took positions just behind the colors,
on either side. Then came Capt. J.E. Reid with a division of his company. As
they passed under the flag Lt. Jackson with a division of the company entered
from the north entrance and Lt. Mizell with a division entered from the south
entrance, passing down the side aisles in single file they formed a double column
as they passed under the flag, following the division of Capt. Reid to the
chancel, where a heart was formed, as near as possible, by the entire company.
As the drums ceased the notes of the organ, under the
artistic touch of Mrs. F.A. Boyle, filled the church with the wedding march and
the bride, leaning on the arm of her father, entered the northern entrance, and
the groom, with his brother, Mr. B.F. Nurney, entered from the south, marching
to the center, while, as they passed under the flag the bride took the groom’s
arm and they marched to the chancel rail where they met the rector, Mr. Tolson,
who, according to the beautiful ritual of that church, pronounced them man and
wife. During the ceremony the flag was held in position directly over the
bride.
As the bridal party marched down the center aisle and out at
the northern entrance, the organ ceased and the drums took up the notes. Capt.
Reid wheeled his men down the center aisle in double column. Lts. Jackson and
Mizell marched their divisions in cross line, passing down the side aisles to
the center, there meeting, formed in double column in the rear of Capt. Reid’s
division, and all passed out the rear entrance.
The ushers, in military costumes, Messrs. P.W. Brinkley and
W.F. Ausbon, were unable to place the large number of people in the church. The
building was packed to its utmost capacity.
Immediately after the ceremony a reception was held at the
home of the bride’s parents, where the happy couple received the
congratulations of their many friends. They were also the recipients of many
handsome and costly presents.
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