The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-01-28
aaistsllanspus.
Nine wsdding-Ring Reasons.


Reasons for the use OF the Wedding
Ring 10 the marriage ceremony:
l. AS BY turning ring forever no
end can be found, so the friendship ce.
mented by marriage should be endles
and perpetual; not even broken off
finally 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 q glorious resurrection,
when all that was pure aud lovely 10
the union, shall be more SO still, with
the high additional perfection Of con
tiauing uninterrupted throughout an
endless round of blessed Immortality.
2 As the. marriage ring should be
made Of pure gold, which is the most
pure or simple Of all metals, so the mar.
riage union cemented by that impres
sive pledge given aud received, should
be pure 10 its origin, pure in its con
tinuance, and so pure in all its motives
as to contra-distinguish the contracting
parties from all inlimacies founded upon
gross and carnal principles, aud Al
nearly as possible resembling 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 mar rage
ring shou d be made, is esteemed tho
most valuable Of all metals, SO the love
and friendship implied in the marriage
ring ever be considered as infinitely
more valuable than any other system OF
which human nature is capable.
4. AS gold is most compact or least
porous of metals, so tho marriage, love
and friendship should be so closely &C..
m,nted by the blending into each other
Of all the kind and good affections Of
the parties, as to leave no possible aper-
ture or opening for the introduction Of
any strange or forbidden affection. Each
party should always be prepared to say
to the other,
.Thy loyeliness my heart hath prePossest
And len no room FOR any other guest"
5. As gold, by the action Of the most
intense heat, even ina cruciblc. can not
lose any particle of its original weight
and worth, but comes out of the cruel
BILE as heavy and as valuable as when it
was put in, losing nothing in conse.
quen,e of the fiery odeal, except what
ever portion Of dross or alloy may have
been Incorporated with the pure metal /;
SO the most severe Affections aud fiery
prosecutions, which hay be the portion
Of the marriage parties during some Of
the changes and chances Of this mortal
life, should never be able to dctcriorate
or take from the marriage union any
parts Of its Intrinsic worth or beauty,
but the parties should rise from the
furnace Of affection aud the dishonors
of the grave without having lost any
thing except tho grosser particles Of
earth and sin, which may have unhapi-
ly attached themselves TO the mystic
union which was intended to secure
their felicity. $50. i.sjsssgs 80 (.
G, The marriage ring should be per-
fectly plain; that is, no chased, raised,
or artificial work should appear on its
surface--implyiog that the marriage
union should not be the result Of any
artifce, 90 account Of wealth, equipage,
honor, or the undue influence Of friends 4
but the plain result Of an honorable and
religious affection between the contract
ing parties aud that God who first in-
the holy estate Of matrimony.
4, As gold is an incorruptible metal
that is, if thrown into the mire, or
imbedded in the most impure soil, il
will never become corrupt, corrode, or
imbibe one speck Of rust or impurity.
50 should the marriage love and friend
ship, however it may be sometimes
obliged to descend from the elevation
Of affiuence into the deepest valley Of
penury or distress, be doomed, ,--"To
waste its sweetness on the desert air"
DO incarcersted within the gloomy con
Iiues Of tho prison cell. or associate with
the poor, the mean, or the illiterate
still, like its ipcorrsptible emblem,
should il continue as beautiful as ever.
8. As gold is the most ductile Of all
SO that an ounce can be beaten
nut TO cover an acre Of land, or gid q
inely -astenuated thread to embrace the
Of the world : surface, 80
'hoQld the results Of the marriage union
'alfl the original command 70 increase,
multiply, and cover the earth with
The precious sons Of Zion, comparable
% fine gold"
8. An the marriage ring exhibits
to imply pre-eminencs Of the
me party oyer the other, notwithstand-
ng the word airy i applied 20 the wo-
man rather than tho man, yet the man
'hould ever reoellect, that -, 10 foren-
10 con.ts, especially courts Of equity,
he plaintiff must appear with what is
sailed aclcan hands, in other words,
have fully done his part and duty, so
before tho husband can have any right
10 command, or the wife Be under any
obligation 70 obey, be must remember
Lhe test Of his lnse and sincepity, which
Is given in Holy Scriptures, viz aHus-