Show To the Surprise of Both Jap Going A Away Rite Actually a Wedding SAN FRANCISCO April 9 UP UPI P Temple gongs reed flutes and anda a Japanese priest murmuring in his oriental tongue tongue- That reasoned the navy commander commander com com- mander and the red red haired haired girl was just a beautiful going away ceremony for their departure from I Tokyo The girl Miss Mis Elizabeth Church hurch 28 enrolled as an an oriental languages lan lan- an- an s dent sti nt nt at the the University sity of Washington Washingto Seattle after her arrival last fell Recently she translated a document document document docu docu- ment the priest had given her It was a marriage certificate And explained the retired commander com corn mander Frederick W. W Ebersole the departure ceremony actually was a Shinto marriage ritual The marriage was annulled to the great relief of both by Superior Judge Alfred J. J Fritz here Thurs Thurs- day Already Married l Ebersole 34 a socially prominent nent San Francisco chain store executive already was married and the father of three children He and his w wife fe had been separated since 1943 but were reconciled after his return That nullified an interlocutory divorce not divorce not final for a year year which which his wife had obtained last July Ebersole was public works officer officer officer for forthe the navy at naval ba base e on Tokyo bay Miss Church was a research assistant with army intelligence Both Ebersole explained were interested in Japanese culture particularly the Shinto religion Among their friends was a wealthy Japanese who had a n Shinto ceremonial ceremonial ceremonial cere cere- chamber in his house He told us he had arranged a beautiful going away ceremony for tor forus us us recalled Ebersole We thought that was nice Our friend led us into a large room hung with tapestries At Atone Atone Atone one end stood a Shinto priest in full regalia of ot conical hat and flowing robes Didn't Didt Understand He was mumbling words that we we could not understand Attendants Attendants Attendants Attend Attend- ants were playing on flutes and sounding brass gongs We just stood there S Several times Umes the priest bowed almost to the floor and always the temple music continued In about 20 mm- mm utes ute's the ceremony was over Then the priest handed Miss Church what looked like a mimeographed mimeographed mimeo mimeo- graphed piece of oC paper with Japanese Japa Japa- nese ness characters on it I I dont don't know what it said After the party was over Miss Church and I went to our respective respective respective tive quarters and shortly afterward afterward after after- ward we ve both were returned separately separately separately sep sep- to the states |