Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1913 — REBEKAHS WITNESS MARRIAGE CEREMONY [ARTICLE]

REBEKAHS WITNESS MARRIAGE CEREMONY

■ ■! 5' Mrs. Martha Frances Smith and Elijah Harp Married in Odd Fellows Hall. The I. O. O. F. hall Wednesday evening was the scene of a rather unusual wedding, from the fact that many of the seventy-five persons; largely members of. the Rebekak lodge, did not know who the bride and groom were to be until after they had assembled at the hall. ' On last Friday evening an anonymous letter was read to the lodge of Rebekahs. It stated that the writer was a member of the order in good standing and that she would be married at the hall the following Wednesday evening and desired that as many members as possible be on hand to witness the ceremony and that the officers be At their respective stations. Lodge members were guessing. They looked over the roster And figured on the eligible list of widows and spinsters and - some made accurate guesses while others had no idea who the letter could be from. There was a large number on hand, including several members of the I. O. O. F., when the hour for the ceremony arrived and Mrs. Martha Frances Smith, widow of John L. Smith, appeared on the arm of Mr. Elijah Harp, of White county, and ushered toward the altar by Miss Florence Moore as Miss, Lavera Lee played a wedding march they were married, by Rev. W. G. Winn, of the Christian church. Miss Moore and Miss Florence Gorham acted as bridesmaids. Following the ceremony'the couple received the congratulations of the guests and an evening of pleasure followed, during which some good music and several- short speeches were made. All then repaired to Mrs. Haus’ restaurant and were treated to ice cream and cake. It Is understood that Mr. and Mrs. Hasp will reside in the bride’s property on West Clark street in Rensselaer.