Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-08-29
Nine wedding Ring Reasons.


Reasons lor the use OF the Wedding
Ring IN the marriage ceremony.
/. AS by turning ring forever no end
can be found, SO Iho friendship cemenied
by marriage should be endless and per-
pylual no, even broken faolly by The
interruption OF death, but the marriage
party separating merely during the night
OF the grave in sure and certain hope Of
meeting again on the following of glo-
rlous resurrection, when all that was pure
and lovely in the union, shall be more SO
still, with the high additional perfection
Of continuing uninterrupted throughout an
endless round Of blessed immortality.
.. As the marriage ring should be made
OF pure gold, which is the most pure or
simple Of all metals, SO The marriage uni
on, cemenIed by that impressive pledge
given and received, should be pure in its
origin, pure in lis continuance, and so
pure IN all its motives as TO conlra-dis-
linguish the contracting parties from all
inlimacies founded upon gross and carnsl
principles, and as nearly as possible re-
sembling the love OF Christ for his spouse
the Church, who SO loved the Church
that he gave himself for it.
3. As gold, Of which the marriage ring
should be made, is esteemed the most val
liable of all metals, so the love and friend
ship implied in The marriage ring should
ever be considered as infinitely more val
liable than any other system OF which hu-
man nature is capable.
4. As gold is the most compact or least
porous OF metals, so the marriage, love
and friendship should be so closely &C.
mented by the blending into each other Of
all kind and good affections Of the parties,
as 10 leave no possible aperture or open
ing for the introduction Of any strange or
forbidden sf, clion. Each party should
always be prepared TO say to the other
''Thy lovclincss mv heart hath prepossest,
And left no room for any other guest"
S. AS gold, by action Of the most III
tense heat, even in crucible, can not
lose any particle Of its original weight and
worth, but comes Uui Of the crucble as
heavy and as valuable as when II was
put in, losing nothing in consequence OF
the fiery ordeal, except whatever portion
of dross or alloy may have been incorpo-
rated with the pure meta so the most
severe affections and fiery prosecutions,
which may be the portion OF The marriage
parties during some Of the changes and
chances Of this mortal life, should never
be able ,o.deterOrSte or take from the mar
rage union any part OF its intrinsic worth
or beauty, bat The parties should rise
from the furnace OF slliiciion and the dis
honors Of the grave without having lost
anything except the grosser particles ol
earth and sin, which may have unhsPpl-
" attached themselves TO the mystic uni.
on which was intended TO secure their fe
licitv
6. The marriage ring should be per
fecrv plain that il, no chased, raised,
or artificial work should appear on its
surfsce-impIying that the marriage uni
on should not be the result OF any sriifce,
on account Of wealth, equipage, honor. or
the undue influence Of friends, bot the
plain result Of an honorable aud religious
affection between Ihe contracting parties
and that q oj who frs, Instituted the holy
estate OF mslrimony.
:. IS gold is an incorruPuble metal
that is, il thrown into the miEe, or imbed-
ded in the most impure coil, it will never
become corrupt, corode, or ImbIbe one
speck OF rusI or inpurily, 80 should The
marriage love and friendship. however II
nav be sometimes obliged TO descend
from The elevation Of sffluencs into the
deepes, valley OF penUry or distress, be
doomed. ITO waste lis sweetness. on
the desert air" be incsrcersied within the
gloomy confines OF the prison cell. or as
sociste with the poer, The mean. or the
llli,erate 4; sull, like its incoErUpnble en-
blem, shoulji, continue as bright and
besu,ful as ever.
8. As gold is the most ductile OF al
metals, so that an ounce can be beaten
ont TO cover an acre Of land. OF gild
fnely-auenUsJed thread TO embrace ,ho
circumference Of the worlds suris"e. so
should the results OF the marri5ge union
.ulf! lhe original command 10 increase,