The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-06-21
Misfellanfops.
CostSmS Of'Eriends.

concerning this custom. They differ also III
these respects, SO they experience generally
different result. As married, they may be
said to be, happy people. Hence the detail
ers Of scandal have rarely had tin their pow.
er to pro;nulgate a case of adultery. Nor have
the lawyers had an opportunity, in, our pub
lie courts, to proclaim Friends divorce.
George Fox suggested many regulations on
this subject. He advised, among other things
when persons had in contemplation to marry,
that they should lay their intention before the
monthly meetings both of the men and the wo:
men. lie advised also, that the consent OF
their parents should be previously obtai;e and
certified to these. Thus he laid the foundation
for greater harmony in the approaching union.
he advised, again, that inquiry should be made
whether the parties were clear of engagements
or promises of marriage to others; and if they
were not, they should be hindered from pro.
eeedng. Thus he cut off the causes CT the in
terruption Of connubial happiness, by preven.
ting unease reflections, or suits at law, after
the union had taken place. He alvis also in
the case of second marriages, that any offspring
resulting from the former should have their due
rights and proper provision secured to them
before they were allowed to be solemnized.-
Thus he gave greater chance for happiness,
by preventing mercerary motives for becom-
ING the causes Of husband and wife.
But. George Fox, as he introduced these and
other salutary, regulations on the subject OF
marriage, so he introduced new manner of
the world !; that is against the formal prayers
and exhortaiOns as they were repeated, and
against the formal ceremonies as they were
practiccd, by the parish priest. lie considered
that it was God who joined man and woman
before the fall, and that in Christian times or
where the man was truly renovated in heart,
there could be no other right or honorable
way of union. Consistently with this view OF
tie snhicct, he observed, that in ancient scrip
tual times, persons took each other in mar
riage in the assemblies of the elders, and that
there was no record, from the book of Genesis to
tha; OF Revelations, of any marriage by priest.
IIenceit it became his new Society, as rel:
gio;;s or renovated people, to abandon apos'ate
usages. ard to adopta manner that was more
agreeable to their new state.
George Fox gave in lis own marriage, an
| example of all he had thus recommended to
the Society. Having agreed with Margaret
Fell, the widow Judge Fell, upon the prorrety
of their union as husband and wife, he desired
her to send for her children. As soon as they
! came he asked them and representive husbands
if they had anything against it or for it desiring
them to speak. And they all severaly en-
pressed their satisfaction therein. Then he
asked Margaret if she had fulfilled and per-
| formed her husbands will. She replied, the
children knew that, Whereupon he asked
them whether, if their mother married, they
should not lose by it, And he asked Margar-
ct whether she had done anything in lieu OF it,
which might answer it to the children.
The children said, she had answered it to
them, and desired him to speak no more about
that. lie told them that he was plain, and that
he would have all things about him plain, and
that he would have all things plainly, for no
sought not any outward advantage to himself.
So, after he had acquainted the children with
it. their intention of marriage was laid before
Friends, both privately and publicly" C. for's
Journal, vol. H. p. 1859 and afterwards, a
meeting appointed for the accomplishment OF
the marriage in the public meeting house at
Broad Meadin Bristol, they took each other
in marriage, in this plain and simple manner as
then practiscd and which he himself had origi.
nally recommended TO his followers.
The regulations concerning marriage, and
the manner ofthe soemnization oft which OBJ
taincd in the time Of George Fox, nearly obtain
among Friends at present day.
When marriage is agreed upon between two
persons, the man and the woman, at one OF the
monthly meetings publicly declare their in
trnliun concerning it. At this time their pa
rents must either appear ro send certificates, to
signify their consent This being done two
men are appointed by the mems meeting, and
two women by that Of the women to wait upon
the man and woman respectively, and to learn
from themselves, as well as by other inquiry, if
they staud perfectly clear from any marriage
promises and engagements to others. AT the
next monthly meeting, the deputation make
their report.
If either Of the parties is reported to have
given expectation of marriage to any other in
divdua, the proceeding are stopped till the
matter be satisfactorily explained. But ;fthey
are both of them reported to be clear in this
respect, they are at liberty to proceed, and one
or more persons of respectability, of each sex,
are deputed to see that the marriage be orderly
conducted. ass
In the case ofseconl Marriages, additional
Instructions are sometimes given; for any of
the parties, thus inimating their intention of
marrying, should have children alive, the per-
son who were deputed toinqure into their clear
ness from all other engagements, arc to see
that the rights of such children be legally Sc
cured.
When the parties are considered to be lree
by the reports of the deputaton, to proceed
upon their union, they appoint suitable day
for tho solemnization of it which is generally