Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1882 — A Spirit Bride. [ARTICLE]

A Spirit Bride.

A prominent broker on Wall street, whose name is withheld at hj« own request, upon ex-Surrogate Daily’s plea of an injury to his business, was married there to a spirit bride by a spirit clergyman. This stAtemlnt seems astounding enough, but the facts, says the New York Star, are perfectly well authenticated. Three years aeo a young girl who had been living with a broker, and had borne him four children, but to whom he was not married, suddenly died, beseeching him upon her death-bed to legitimatize their children. A few months ago a few friends of the broker, who were spiritualists, simultaneously received messages that a spirit had a communication to make to him, and he was at length induced to visit the Sixth avenue circle. Here the spirit of his dead love first communicated with him in her own hand writing, and finally materialized and held long conferences with him. He says that he has no doubt whatever as to the identity of the spirit; that he could not possibly nave been deluded by any medium, and his übsequ nt conduct proves ety of his bolief. During their uonver" sation he expressed his regret that he had not made her his wife, and sho assured him that it was not yet to late, and that she was ready to become his spirit bride. The choice of a clergyman occassioned some discussion, which was ehded most remarkably by the bride’s assertion that she had met in the spirit world the pastor of her girlhood, the Rev. Mr. Weatherwell; that he had ( urged her to have the ceremony of marriage performed, and that be was perfectly willing to officiate. The matter being arranged, reg. ular invitations were issued to friends of the parties, wedding actually took place; a materialized bride coming out from behind a screen, and making audible responses, and the venerable figure of the Rev. Mr. Weatherwell standing just within the screen recitmg the marriage service in a clear, sonorous voice. We have had spirit brides before, but never a spirit clergyman. I asked my ipformant, who was present at the wedding, ( whether tne happy couple were married with a ting. He said, “Yes, they were.” I then asked him, “what became of the ring when the spirit bride lost her materialization?’’ He declared that she mus.t have taken it with her into the spirit world 1 and being a spiritualist, he saw nothing whatever, absurd in this transaction.