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Show A BIO MARRIAGE SERVICE. American Mlaslonsry United Thirty ons Couples at Once. Tha Rev. A. W. Pltxer set a pretty good pace last week when he married three ennplea at onca, but ho la atlll twenty -eight lapa behind the record, which la held by an American mla tlonary on the Island of Apemana. Thla strange wedding, where thirty-one thirty-one couples wore united at onca, waa olnmnltod In 1HK2. All the principals wero converted heathens, and so wall ware the marriage bonds tied that ten years later not ono of the couples j was divorced. I Tha great wedding was ons of ne- cesslty, rather than choice. All tha , couples had signified their Intentloa I tn be married with Christian rltea. I Plana were made for separata wed-I wed-I dings, but a missionary ship was waiting wait-ing for the teacher who waa to marry I tho converts, and an approaching storm made It neressury for him to read the ceremony with great haste. I If tho natives had not agreed to engage en-gage In a wholesale ceremony they I would have been condemned In als six montha more of single blOanedneaa, ao tha great party Joined right handa and assumed the solemn obligations according to their new faith Washington Wash-ington Times. |
