E-text prepared by Eileen Gormly, Norbert H. Langkau, Daryl Hrdlicka, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 24171-h.htm or 24171-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24171/24171-h/24171-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24171/24171-h.zip) Transcriber's Notes: Text that is handwritten in the original is surrounded by tildes (~). The second signature on the "Witnesses" page is too faint in the original to be readable. THE WEDDING DAY. The Service--The Marriage Certificate--Words of Counsel. Edited by JOHN F. HURST, D.D., LL.D. Buffalo: H. H. Otis. 1889. Copyright, 1888, by H. H. OTIS Buffalo, N. Y. CONTENTS Page FORM FOR THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY, 5 CERTIFICATE, 13 WITNESSES, 14 THE NEW HOME, 15 THE HOME ALTAR, 21 THE HOME BEAUTIFUL, 28 GOOD READING AT HOME, 32 FORBEARANCE, 37 THE YESTERDAYS OF HOME, 44 FORM FOR THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. [THE PARTS IN BRACKETS THROUGHOUT MAY BE USED OR NOT, AT DISCRETION.] _At the day and time appointed for the Solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married--having been qualified according to law--standing together, the Man on the right hand and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say:_ Dearly beloved: we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that exists between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace. [_And also, speaking unto the persons who are to be married, the Minister shall say:_