The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-01-16
Mime Weddimg-rimg Reasons.

Reasons for the use sSthe Wedding Rim
ia the marriage CEREMONY
/. As by turning a ring forever no en-
can be found SO the.friendship cemened b,
marriage should be endless and perpetual
not even broken off finally by the interrup
tion of death. but the marriage party sepa
rating merely during the night of the grave
in sure and certain hope of meeting AGAR
on the following Of a glorious resurrection
when oil that was pure and lovcly in the
union, shall be more so still, with the high
additional perfection of continuing uninter
rupted throughout the endless round of a
blessed immortality.
2, As the marriage ring should be made
of pure gold, which is the most pure or sim
ple of ali metals, 80 the marriage union. ce-
snented by that impressive pledge given and
received, should be pure in its origin, pure
in jts continuance, and SO pure In all It's
motives as to contra-d distinguish the contrac:
ting parties from all intimacies founded
upon gross or carnal principles, and as near
" as possible, resembling the love of Christ
for bis spouse the Church, who SO loved the
Church that he gave himself for if.
8. Asgold, ofJwhich the marriage ring
should be. made. 10 esteemed the most va
luable oYall asetala, so the love and friend
saaip irnpliedin the marriage ring should
ever be considered ms Infinitely more valua'
bic than any other system Of which human
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 ces''ented by
ehe blending into each other OF al the kind
and ood.affcctinn>iof the parties, as to leave
mo possible aperture or ope:'ing for the in
PRODUCTION of any strange or Aforbidden af-
lection. Each party should always be pre-
pared to say Of the other
"Thy loveliness my heart hath pSepossest,
And left no room for any other guest"
8. As gold, by the action of the most in
tense heat, even in a crucible, cannot lose
any particle of its original weight and worth, |
but comes out of the crueible as heavy and
as valuable as when it was put in, losing |
nothing in consequence Of the fiery ordeal,
except whatever portion of dross or alloy |
may have been incorporated with the pure
metal: so the most severe Affections and
Rery prosecutions, which may be the por-
ton of the marriage parties during some OF
the changes and chances of this mortal life,
should never be able to deteriorate or take
ftom the marriage union any part of its in
Ninsic worth or beauty, but the parties
should rise from the furnace Of afHiction and
de dishonors, of the grave without having
sost anything except the grosser particles of
earth and sin, which may have unhappily
attached themselves to the mystic union
which was intended to secure their felicity.
6. The marriage ring should be perfectly |
plain; that is, no chased, raised, or artificial
work should appear onEits surfaee-imply-
ing, that the marriage union should not be
the result Of any artitice, on account of
wealth, equipage, honor, or the undue in
auence Of friends, but the plain result of an
and religious affection between
Ehe contracting parties and That God who |
(irst instituted the holy estate ofmatrimony.
2. As gold is an incorruptible metal
that is, if thrown into the mire, or imbed-
led in the most impure soil, it will never
become corrupt, corrode. or imbibe one
,peck of rust or impurity, so shouId the
marriage love and friendship, however itj
nay be sometimes obliged to descend from
he elevation of af1uenee into the deepest
'alley Of penury or distress, be doomed
TO waste its sweetness on the desert air"
10 incarcerated within the gloomy confines ,
,fthe prison cell, or associate with the poor,
he mean, OF the illiterate still, like its in i
,orruptible emblem, should it continue as
,right and beautiful as ever.
8. As gold is the most ductile of all me- I
als, SO that an ounce can be beaten out to
over an acre of land, or gid fnely.at- I
enuated thread to embrace the circumfer- {
nee OF the worlds surface, SO should the I
esuiss of the marriage union fulfil the orr t
inal command TO increase, multiply, and s
over the earth with 1.-THE precious sons of I
lion, comparable to fine gold"
Q. As the marriage ring exhibits nothing {
0 imply pre"eminence Of the one party over q
he other, Notwithstanding that the word t