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FIRST MASS WEDDING AT MANDEVILLE’True Religiotb Feeling And Christianity WouldBe End Of All Wars”—Lady HugginsMANDEVILLE, Mr., August 24 (From our Torres* pondent)—Hundreds packed the Ridgemount Church and hundreds remained outside recently to see the first Mass Wedding to be held in Mandeville, The wedding was sponsored by the Jamaica Women's Federation in conjunction with an affiliated Committee of the Ridgemount Women's Guild of the Congregational'Union.The occsiion bore special significance a* it wu probably the l**tman wedding that Ihf Pr**ident apd Founder or the Women’* Federation, Lady Huggins, would attend before her departure from the island. Fifteencouples were united in this ceremony.At four o'clock Lady Huggins amvtd and was met by a guard of honour from companies of the Ridgemount Boys’ Brigade under Capt, Segree and the Girl Guide*. Officiating minister* were Rev- Tom Cox, Chairman of ihe Congregational Union, Rev. W. E. Maxwell of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. S. U. Hasting* of the Moravian . Church, Rev. E- A- RiUhie-Haughton ofriifr ovsr 1,H» waddings warscarried threagh.Lady Huggins emphasized the iro* portanca of the moral aspect and commented on the Hymn “O perfect Love, sung by the choir, and dealt at length with the word Lov«. There was need she said for the love of ones fellowmen, although there waie great deal of trouble the world over, and even her# In Jamaica ther# was discord.‘Tf we could just return to the true religious feeling and Christianity, that would ba tha end of all wars. 1 would hke you all to try to bring more lova into you* lives—-more Christian ideal*. ... there is a greatS. 3 Eguj#* lov‘ - —*Davyton. IOn the platform were Lady Huggins, President. Mrs. Daisy-Godfrey. J.P., Pariah Administrates, Mrs. Mary Morris-Knibb of Kingston, Mrs* Arthur F. Thelwell and Mrs. Emiel Hanna of the Executive of the Federation;. Rev. and Mrs. A. C. Livingston Arbouin of the U.S.A., Mr*. Ritchie Haughton, Mrs, Tesha and Mrs. Thorb of the Trinidad Federation of Women, Mrs. Elsie Grant of Scotland, Mr*. Carmen Mills of New York, MU*' Zutavern of Ohio. Miss Tomlinson of Antigua, Miss Winll Grant, Mrs. C. Leslie Thomas, Mr*. Grant, wife of Barrister Grant of British Honduras, Organiser; Mrs* F. E. Grant^Mrs. Beryl Cox, Mrs. J. W. GrantjgMrs. C. Leslie Thomas, Mr*.Julia/Calder, and Mrs. Josephine ipg, members of the local Committee-The Ridgemount Choir, with Mr. Evaii Grant. at the organ, and Mi»s Doris Thomas as soloist, provided a fitting musical background to the ceremony. Statements *were given by -Mrs. Mina Grant and Mrs. Jose-nine Gunning of the Committee.Cordial WelcomeMr*. Daisy Godfrey in introducing Lady Huggins extended a cordialwelcome to her and said- that her presence there that afternoon bore testimony of her devotion and love for the women of Jamaica.Lady Huggins said it was certainly a great joy to be in Mandeville that afternoon for the mass wedding and she congratulated the ladies for thework put in towards that effort.•She thanked the ministers for the fine way. in which they conducted the ceremony. Commenting on the wedding the first Lady said mast weddings were equally good marriages and a serious occasion. She recalled that the idea of mass weddings was first suggested by Mrs. Morris Knibb, and as one of the great blots on bar Jamaican life was the very high rate of Illegitimacy, the Chris-- tUn 1 marriage was the right thing add most desirable. Continuing, she said the generosity of an American friend brought the gift of 1,000 ring* and the Federation was pleased to announce that al-In closing Lady Huggins congratulated the couples and took the opportunity to *ay “thank you for the affection shown by- the people of Jamaica and wished for the future every happiness and prosperity and to the couple* that they would love each other very truly.The address was hoard outside by the use of amplifiers and was verywell received.Mr*. KnibbMr*. Morris Knibb also gave a short address pointing out the di -cultie# that were encountered in the arrangements for a mass wedding in Mandeville; and that it was indeed encouraging to note the co-operation among the ladie* of the committee.She paid great tribute to the work Of Lady Huggias amonc the women of Jamaica and stated that masswedding* would have been In the forgotten past were it not for the co-operation of Lady Huggins. To date 3.040 weddings were organised Mrs. Knibb emphasized emphatically“the children are not illegitimate, the parents are”, referring to the question of illegitimacy. Lady Huggins, she said, had liberated- many -children in this land and in lifting the women of Jamaica she gave a life to all Jamaica. In closing Mrs. Knibb said: “They will rise to bieM you. You have begotten love in Jamaica, you gave us loye, your name win still-Jive’’.Mrs. Mina Grant, local organiser, presented a bouquet to Lady Huggins while Mrs.. F. E. Grant who secured ten couples for the wedding presenteda bouquet to Mrs. Morris Knibb.%Rev. Mr. Cox thanked Lady Huggins and all who co-°perated towards the success of the wedding.The address . presented by Mrs. Mina Grant paid special tribute to Lady Huggins and expressed the thanks of the women in Particularand the Community for the work of Lady Huggins in Jamaica.•The couples marched to the memorial hall where the reception took place- Spect# mention was made of Mrs. Daisy Godfrey, Parish Administrator in connection with the reception. Master of Ceremonies was Mr. C. Leslie Thomas. The toast to the bride, was given by Mr. A. J. “Doc” Anderson of Porus, and as Rev. W. E. Maxwell toasted the bridegroom*, the curtain was rung down on Man-deville’s first mass wedding.
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Fri, Aug 25, 1950
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
Susun W.
USA 16 Feb 2019
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