Changes Wedding Ceremony

1916

Episcopal Bride to "Keep," Not "Obey," Husband.

NEW YORK — Brides married under the new form of ceremony proposed in the Episcopal Church substituting the word "keep" for "obey" will not pledge themselves to support their husbands, the Rev. John A. Maynard of the "Little Church Around the Corner" explained.

Under the new ritual marriage becomes a 50-50, according to the Rev. Mr. Maynard. The bride's pledge to "keep" her husband, which it is proposed to substitute for the word "obey," doesn't mean that at all, said the rector.

"It means simply that she promises to keep herself for him alone," he said. "As far as the promise 'obey' goes, that has been a dead letter for a long time. Our wives do not obey their husbands. Very frequently, indeed, the husbands obey their wives."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 5.