vestry, and
stand on the chancel step facing the guests, awaiting the bride, the
bridegroom being slightly, in advance.

The ushers, walking two and two, lead the way up the aisle; the
bridesmaids follow at a distance of ten or twelve feet, also walking in
pairs; then comes the maid-of-honor, walking alone. She is followed by the
bride, leaning on the arm of her father or nearest male relative. At the
chancel the ushers separate to right and left, remaining below the chancel
step; the bridesmaids separate in the same manner, but ascend the chancel
step. The maid-of-honor places herself at the left of the place left for
the bride, in readiness to hold her bouquet and remove her glove. The
bridegroom descends the chancel step, meeting the bride. The two place
themselves before the clergyman, the bride standing on the bridegroom's
left; the best man stands at the right of the bridegroom a step or two in
the rear.

[738 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

The Bride's Father.--The place of the bride's father is at the left
somewhat in the rear. As the clergyman asks: "Who giveth this woman to be
married to this man?" he steps forward and places the bride's right hand
in that of the clergyman, who in turn places it in that of the bridegroom.
The father steps aside, and as the bridal procession forms to retire after
the ceremony, he joins his wife and escorts her from the church.

At the proper moment the maid-of-honor removes the bride's glove and takes
her bouquet. The best man gives the ring to the bride, who passes it to
the clergyman; the latter gives it to the bridegroom, who places it on the
bride's finger, holding it there while repeating the formula, "With this
ring I thee wed," etc. The significance of this transfer is the forming of
a circle, to indicate the endlessness of the contract.

Another Form.--A form sometimes introduced is for the bridal party to
stand below the chancel while the clergyman reads the service up to and
including the sentence, "If any man can show just cause," etc. After the
customary moment's pause, there being no unseemly interruption, the party
ascends the chancel step and the ceremony proceeds.

The order of the procession after the ceremony is this: The just married
pair lead the way, the wife taking her husband's arm; the maid-of-honor
follows; then the bridesmaids, after them the ushers. Such is the conduct
of a church wedding, a thousand times repeated. The ceremony is often
rehearsed a nigh