In the year 1863, before the ordination of Pastor Sulleba, there being no Protestant properly qualified to perform the marriage ceremony in Hums, I went to that city to marry two of the Protestant young men.  It was the first time a Protestant marriage had ever taken place in Hums, and great interest was felt in the ceremony.  It is the custom among the other sects to pronounce the bride and groom husband and wife, neither giving an opportunity to spectators to object, nor asking the girl if she is willing to marry the man.  The girl is oftentimes not consulted, but simply told she is to marry such a man.  If it pleases her, well and good.  If not, there is no remedy.  The Greek Church gives no liberty in this respect, although the priest takes it for granted that the friends have satisfied both bride and groom with regard to the desirableness of the match.  If they are not satisfied, the form of the ceremony gives neither of them the right of refusal.

The two young men, Ibrahim and Yunis, called upon me soon after my arrival, to make arrangements for the marriage.  I read them the form of the marriage ceremony and they expressed their approval, but said it would be necessary to give the brides very careful instructions as to how and when to answer, lest they say yes when they should say no, and no when they wished to say yes!  I asked them to accompany me to the houses of the girls, that I might give them the necessary directions.  They at once protested that this would not be allowed.  They had never called at the brides’ houses when the girls were present, and it would be a grievous breach of decorum for them to go even with me.  So certain of the male relatives of the girls were sent for to accompany me, and I went to their houses.  On entering the house of the first one, it was only after long and elaborate argument and diplomatic management, that we could induce the bride to come in from the other room and meet me.  At length she came, with her face partially veiled, and attended by several married women, her relatives.

They soon began to ply me with questions.  “Do you have the communion before the ceremony?” “No.”  “Do you use the “Ikleel” or crown, in the service?” “No, we sometimes use the ring.”  Said one, “I hear that you ask the girl if she is willing to take this man to be her husband.”  “Certainly we do.”  “Well, if that rule had been followed in my day, I know of one woman who would have said no; but they do not give us Greek women the chance.”

I then explained to them that the bride must stand beside the bridegroom, and when I asked her if she knew of any lawful reason why she should not marry this man, Ibrahim, she should say No,—­and when I asked her if she took him to be her lawful and wedded husband, she must answer Yes.  Some of the women were under great apprehension that she might answer No in the wrong place; so I repeated