The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-12-15
Marriage.
BEVERLEY.
{ From the N. O. Sunday Times. L

~ 49, = y -
Although we have contributed tw,
articles upon this subject to the col
umns of the Times, we feel that it com
prlses7too much, istoo vast in its rela
l tons, to have beenthoroughly handled
in them.
Marriage is either union of two
spirits into oneness, flowing ont of {
mutual affinity one for the otI,er;s
( state iof forced union in which they
Mutually repeal each other ;; or it il Z
union in which one is drawn. to the
other by an irresistible love, that j,
always asking, yearning, longing, yet
Is ever refused; or it is union where
both love, but affinity isIwah ting.z IA
flmon where two hearts are ever de-
handing, yet neither often complying
4 In the first union, JOY and peace flo
! naturally through their souls,- as the
;, re- result OF deep, abiding love and trust.
ihe desire OF each to please the other
Is so grent,!se.ahTahsorbing of self, that
the weaker, Through this desire, and
love and tenderness. soon sinks into
every thought aud feeling Of the
). stronger;Aye this is accomplished So
naturally, ST. pleasantly, that she is
I'seif-dcceived, and thinks these opin-
ions and feelings her own, and conara,;.
ul;,tes herself on being SO smart ms 70
meet the approximations of a man rs wise
as her husband. This is a perfect mar
rlhge, rarely met with gupon earth. but
which we have seen q few times, and
which presented to our mind a type of
heavenl y rest, and joy given to the
SAINTS IN the man Jesus Christ. Let
not our reader imagine thatrit is neees-
sary TO such d marrige that the woman
he weaker in mind than the man, for
it is MOI. In the most beautiful one of
the wcperfect marriageslwe have ever
seen, the woman was mentally the
mans superior. The first requisite to
| tins marriage is an affinity of spirit
drawing each to the other; this cannot
exist without producing love the deep
estyand priest. The next isca stronger
character, in the man than the woman.
The second state of .marriage-union
is one in which tlie two are confined
together, walking life ,side,b side un-
der heavy shackles, yet wholly apart
as entirely separated as water and oil
canfihed together in "a phial.a This
state can only be- described as the
pandemonipmi aftwo SOULS where ha-
tired discOrd and bitterness begins a
hell upon earth. There is no doubt
but this is state of which they, should
rid themselves by separation. Let not
the parties forges~t hat marriage is an
ordinance of God, and that separation
does not effect its sacredness as such
and that death alone can relcase either
party for a second marriage. IF mar
rage is less than this, il, is nothing. If
man may annul this ordinance, then it
is OF man and not of God. Ifit is of
God, mortal man may notahnnt it and
tho Billie tellsus that it is of, God. -
| Mans lawEis most audacious and
evil when it Licenses a second marriage
where both parties are living. There
should be no legal permit for such to
marry. How dare man legalize that
which God has .toghiaden {? We are
aware of the weight of the arguments
that may he brought to sustain tile law;
but Gods law should be obeycd and
the consequences of either good or evil
/ left to the parties and to him. The
Great Orator and Controller of the
Universe is snrelgall to give laws
unto His creatures. ag.rafT 715s,t
The two latter conditions Ofmarriage
/, are conducive of mncl, wretchedness,
yel not all unmingled with good, and
even iiu1rs of much happiness, If not
perfect happin $50. belong to them. The
former of the two be.,.r" the least hap.
piness; yet there is a lnSu., ., loving
which even the Indebtedness OF being
unloyed cannot totally destroy. This
is eyinced, in a negative way, BY the
fact that no husband or wife, loving
the other, is ever willing to separate
from the loved one, however much he
or she may suffer.
The latter of the two conditions of
marriage is about equally divided be-
tween happiness and unhappincss for
there is the rich JOY of loving and being
loved, which even the discord produced
by lack of spiritual affinity cannot des-
destroy, and which in spite of the alb
scnce Of affinity of spirit, often casts
aside discord and brings such hours of
Itch deep joy as make the parties pre-
fer their life to all the single blessed
ness upon earth. This is the common
condition of marriage, the one seen
most generally. Now, the question
Nf''Te'3 q" bfSio Hut SubSttdS fVt THIS
affinity lacked in these marriages7 Yes
and very excellent one-good sense.
guided by truth and homer. IA qz,f7I
Let this, so directed, be brought to
bear in these marriages, and the alb a
sence of spiritual affinity will almost
be lost sight of in the peace and quiet
which will be brought to crown their
love asd bless home, and theirs will be
n portion of happiness enough for NOR
tails here below, if we would not have
the temptation to turn from God to
the creature, from Heaven, to earth
ever before us. Without, this good
sense, guided by honor, to regulate the
marriage relations, even strong, mntu-
al love may be often stepped in the
bitterness of NORWOOD and gall Let
those thus wed think of this and guard
wellby sense and honor, the marriage
relations of their lives. They will need
no gnide but these to eventually bless
their union with a rich, deep abiding
happiness. There will sometimes be
mistakes, hnt experience aud mental
development will correct the Judgment,
and they will grow fewer and further
apart. It is useless to lay down a
thousand and one little rules to guide
the married life let sense and honor
guide the parties, and these rules will
naturally present themselves, while all