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Blantyre Folk

Marriage

of

John McMaster Findlay

To

Lilias Morris

SAILOR’S MARRIAGE HUSTLE.—A seaman who has been fifteen years in the Merchant Navy had an unusual marriage experience on Tuesday morning in which the old saying “Where there’s  a will there is a way” once more proved true.

His ship came unexpectedly into a Scottish port on Monday, and, getting a few hours leave, he reached Blantyre where his fiancée resided. As he was not in a position to say when he would be home again, his young lady readily agreed with his suggestion to get married at once. So the young couple put in an immediate appearance at the Livingstone Memorial   Church manse, only to find that the Rev. Archibald Frew was on holiday. They learned, however, that the Rev. John M. Sibbald, minister of Anderson Church , was acting for Mr Frew, and he kindly agreed to help them out of their difficulty.

He went to Livingstone Church, and from the steps read the proclamation of banns of marriage, and as witnesses he secured the services of his ministerial colleague, Rev. James G. Ritchie, and a young lady.

The groom was Seaman John McMaster Findlay whose home is at Dock Street, Glasgow, and the bride, Miss Lilias Morris, daughter of the late Mr James Morris and of Mrs Morris 18 Thornhill Avenue, Blantyre. The marriage took place after early mass on Tuesday morning in St. Joseph’s R.C. Church , of which the bride is a well-known member. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Father Patrick Cummins and was witnessed by a large number of the congregation who had attended mass.

With urgent duties on board ship to attend to the sailor was allowed three hours off to get married and after the ceremony had to return to his ship, but his captain gave kindly consideration to the sailor’s position and granted him leave till the following morning. Hurriedly a family gathering was called together and the newly-weds enjoyed a few pleasant hours in a social capacity with their friends in the home of the bride’s mother.

Among the guests were some of the groom’s shipmates, including the groomsman, Seaman James Bonnella and William Caldwell, a petty officer on the Royal Navy, whose home is in Blantyre, and the bridesmaid Mrs James McGinty whose husband is a sailor mate of the groom.

Ref. Hamilton Advertiser. 22/8/1942. Page 5. 

Wilma Bolton. 2005. 

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