A Village Wedding

Why has all this crowd assembled
   In St. Peter's Square to-day – 
Happy, joyous, glad, expectant,
   Some in colours bright and gay?
They have come from town and country,
   Come by every path and lane,
To attend a village wedding
   At this dear old hallowed fane.

High upon the Church's Tower
   Floats a flag amid the breeze
Which, with other flags and streamers
   In the village, serves to please.
From the belfry, too, are ringing
   Merry bells which tell around
To the people o'er the district
   Of the joy that here is found.

Ring Ye Merry Bells with gladness!
   Ring for him and her, to-day,
Who are coming here for worship
   And their Maker to obey:
Ring for both a joyous welcome,
   While they journey here apart,
Soon to kneel before the altar
   Joined in marriage as in heart.

People in the Church assemble,
   See, they enter, more and more,
Passing 'neath the snow-white awning
   From the gates to yonder door;
While, in carriages and "motors,"
   Now approach from far and near,
Bridesmaids, groomsmen, and relations,
   In their places to appear.

Glad are all to see the bridegroom,
   For he is a worthy man,
Honoured by the friends who know him
   Like a chief among his clan:
Still more  eager are the people
   To behold the happy bride,
In a landau drawn by horses,
   Seated by her father's side.

Now begins the Marriage Service,
   Led by organist and choir,
While the crowded congregation
   Lift their hearts with warm desire:
Hymns are sung and prayers are offered,
   Precepts chanted from a psalm,
Words of counsel by the Vicar,
   'Midst a deep and sacred calm.

Bride and bridegroom at the altar
   Plight their troth in terms of love,
Making vows with one another
   Owned and blessed by God above:
They who entered Church as lovers
   Now for life must live as one,
Seeking each the other's welfare,
   Living not for self alone.

Now the pledge of solemn union
   Fixes words beyond repeal,
When the bride holds out her finger
   And receives the golden seal:
Precious circlet, priceless token,
   To be worn upon her hand,
Where its presence will remind them
   Of the vows that e'er must stand.

What more beautiful to witness
   Than a husband and his wife
Who agree to serve the Master
   With a pure and holy life?
Travelling o'er life's path together,
   Loved and loving as they go,
Using all events to aid them,
   Still more fully God to know.

Now the marriage service closes,
   And the bridal party goes,
'Midst their friends' unspoken wishes
   And the murmur of applause.
Followed by those strains of music:
   The triumphal "Wedding-March,"
While the bells ring out to greet them
   As they near the awning-arch.

Ring! The bachelor and maiden
   Into bridegroom and his bride;
Ring no more for them, as single,
   Ring! For they are marriage-tied:
Ring for them the best of wishes,
   As they start their life anew;
Send them forth along their journey
   With a bright and loftier view.

Passing through a guard of honour – 
   Volunteers in khaki clad – 
Entering now their "motor" smiling,
   'Midst a crowd which seems as glad:
Leaving now this scene behind them,
   Followed by their friends to be
Entertained in yonder mansion,
   By the Bride's own family.

This reminds me of a marriage,
   In its nature like to this,
Solemnized midst Eden's beauties
   Twixt a man and maid in bliss:
"Twas the primal wedding morning,
   When that bridegroom took his bride
At the bidding of Jehovah,
   The he might a home provide.

At their marriage was no groomsman,
   Bridesmaid, minister nor choir;
Hymns nor songs by men or women
   Sung to organ, flute or lyre:
Yet, as God Himself presided,
   Giving, too, the bride away,
Would not angels sing sweet music
   To their harps till close of day?

Once our Saviour – Guest most welcome,
   At a wedding-feast of old,
Stamped, with His divine approval,
   Laws and rites then long enrolled,
That a man should take a maiden,
   And together they should live
In the bonds of love and union
   That He might His blessing give.

May the Saviour, as at Cana,
   Let His benediction rest
On the marriage feast provided
   And be there, Himself, a guest;
Not less real, because His presence
   Is concealed from mortal eye,
Nor some heavenly gift less valued
   Than material supply.

These, to-day, in modern fashion,
   Will commence their journey soon,
For the lovely scenes of Devon,
   To enjoy their honeymoon:
When the season is completed,
   And to Sowerby they return,
May they live, among their people,
   More regard and love to earn.

May their future home at Fieldhouse,
   With its mansion large and fair,
Be a place of joy and comfort,
   Bright with sunshine everywhere:
In the drawing-room and kitchen,
   In the garden, on the farm,
May they govern all with justice,
   Tempered with affection warm.

May its park, with trees ancestral,
   And its grounds bedecked with flowers;
May its fairy lake and fountain,
   With the shrubberies and bowers,
Be a veritable Eden,
   Which the poor may sometimes see,
This beholding hidden beauties
   In their own locality.

Then the love which has been kindled,
   In the hearts of those around,
Will increase to adoration
   Which, for them, will much abound,
Till, as leaders of the people,
   Living on the country-side,
They enjoy the "Place of Honour"
   With a name that shall abide.

This for them I have bespoken,
   For myself and others too,
Many prayers and many wishes,
   As life's journey they pursue;
And, when this short life has ended,
   May they find in God their rest,
Having an abundant entrance
   To the mansions of the Blest.