The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-08
spaNa STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Husbands and Wivcs--Thor Mutual
Dutics--S3ernon by DIR. Ailxman.
large congress atlon assembled yesterday morn
ing in the Spring Street Presbyterian church. After
the usual service Dr.. Altman delivered the second
OF the series of dscourses on Family Life.n the
subject was Husbands and Wives; Mutual Duties, =
and the text selected was the first clause in the sixth
verse Of tne nineteenth chapter in the Gospel OF St.
Matthew" Wherefore, they are no more twain, but
one ie5hn The introduction OF the discourse was
on the marriage relation which Or. Altman said
was as holy and sacred as 1t was intimate. The
Bible spoke OF 1t In the most exalted terms and the
union of believers with their Lord was typiaed by
the marriage union. The married state was also the
proper and natural state OF man and woman, and
celibaoy was against nature. II was true that Paul
had incidental passages in his Epistles which seem
indicate that marriage was at the best but pain.
full necessity. Tint was, however misappre.
BENSON OF Paul's meaning, and u was clear
q limited meaning, inasmuch as the Apostle very
frequently in his Epistes beautifully uses the mar.
ried ie az Illustrative OF Christian life. Paul was
wdower and In the storms and struggles OF early
Christianity in which the Apostle took so prominent
part the Apostle preferred TO remain so believing
mai that condition OF life was more favorable to
the work In whch he was engaged. Dr. Aikman
then considered the character OF those who were
not married and said that the character OF those who
were not married, however exalted IL might be- was
always Imperfect while they remained unmarried.
Marriage utu not Hlthe u ptrtcCb character. IHere
were some men who when married were OF much
better than brutes, and the only wonder was what
they would have been without vile. There were
men ana women, however, who were like some
bowers. They pioomed in exquisite beauty on
deserted wild. Tie, were ike trees that grew In
magnificent strength right the oreyice OF rock
where there was not soil enough 10 support shrub
There was no dcarer people IN the world than old
maids aud bachelors. The old maid hal her memo
OF an early love, and lingering over the grave Of
that departed affection she had grown Old too
soon: 40 some she mad been all that mother
could have been, and TO those there was no dearer
name tnan aunt, and the afternoon OF her life was
oiled with geateness. Or. Alkman said 1t was
almost daily wonder to him how some women
came to be married, and II was equally daily won
der that some women were not married Many
home would lose w. greatest charm were maiden
aunt or maiden sister removed. The bachelor
could also tell OF early disappointment and OF an
early sorrow, the particulars OF which no stranger
had ever intermodded with Ii he had no chtldron
OF his own there were children who ran gladly TO
take his hand and to Chamber on his knee, aud who
were glad TO see HIM coming, and there were many
hearts IN wDioh the bachelor found hls place, aud
they were class of men whom he Dr. AiEmanl
loved and honored. The marriage day was an
entrance upon new world: the husband aud wife
stepped upon shore, like happy voyagers stopping