The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-18

this question Is fOuud In another questlon-"What
was the marriage or Adam and Eve Y" Their mar
rage being the nrst recorded and referred to by
prophets and Christ ana his Apostles it IS but fair
to conclude that that was the pattern marriage for
all subsequent generations. In other words. In that
marriage was the great law OF marriage TO remain
in force While time shall last and be binding upon
all generations OF men all nations upon the face
OF the globe. In considering marriage we ought to
glance at Its design, its nature, It's obligations ts
essential elements It's rights and Its muniments.
The design or marriage ls threefold-companion
ship, procreaton, prevention. Ere Eve had gazed
upon the rosy skies Of Paradise or breathed Its
bamy air the Almighty Creator hau said, "It Is not
good that man should be alone; will make him a
nep-meet for him." Thus. companionshlp takes
ecedence the soul ia Grst the body comes second.
God looks TO the social relations OF His creatures to
the union OF spirits. to the beautiful companionship
that should characterize marriage, which grows out
OF marriage, which Is an essential Of marriage,
which Is the browning glory OF marriages and where
there Is no compani0nsnip there is no true mar.
riage.
The second design Is procreation. It pleased tho
Almighty Creator to adopt the plan Of peopling the
earth by the offspring OF one pair-one man
and one woman. Hence the command, "Be
fruitful and multiply and replenish the
EARTH" And this same purpose was again made
manifest after the food. by God saving In the4ark
eight persons-four men and four wonderland unto
whom lie gave the same command that He had given
to Adam and Eve "Be fruitful and multiply and re-
plensh the earth.n This, therefore, was physical
necessity growing out OF the constitution OF nature
Companionship first and offspring second. 1t was
the design OF marriage to prevent the indiscriminate
or promiscuOus intercourse OF the sexes to lift man
above the brute that men and women should not
like brutes, intermiX with each other prOmiscuously
but that each man should have his own wife and
noAhy nYfaon nvvl1 hav haN ntuN hyrIh md
Such being the design, what Is the nature OF mar
riage Marriage Is an Institution rather than o
law. 1t is q state rather than an act-sOmething
that is formed, framed something that has
had foundation, something that mas been
reared something that has been ~, re u Is
II Is state to continue during the existence OF the
parties, unless the tie OF marriage IS sundered BY
the great transgression mentioned IN tho Bible In
law It is called marriage In domesttcty 1t is called
matrimony, In companionship IT is called wedlock-
What are the obligations OF nlarriageP First,
duality-the union OF one man and one woman; or,
in other words the exclusion OF the third party.
Secondly, 1ndissoluoleness-the marriage bands not
to be sundered except by death or It's equivalent,
adultery. Thirdly reciprocity-the woman to re-
ceive what she has given and the man to receive
what he has impaired
And what are the essential elements Of marriage
First intention There must be an Intelligent calm,
fixed intention to enter into the state Of wedlock
This is intellectual; and the intellect should always
predominant In the inception and the contamination
Of marriage Mans animal passions should be held
in subordinatOn to the Intellectual and moral Gle.
ments Of his nature. Second, choice. There must
and on the part OF the woman OF q hus-
eao other the m ans e aSe
either directly or indirectly OF tho holy covenant.
God brought Eve to Adam and he accepted her and
she accepted him IN the solemn presence OF Jehovah
and God said, "For this cause shall man leave
father and mother and cleave 70 his Wife, and the
memorial marriage has been celebrated by imposing
ceremonies as. IN early times, in the case OF Isaac
OF sa o ana II ~ ana ~ es IN me
Lord Jesus Christ Himself attended, and thus directly
gave the Divine sanction to the union OF one man to
one woman. 1t Is said that marriage ceremonies
are Of no real value, that the marriage rite Is mere
Formally. assert they are as valuable to society
conveyance are In the eyes of the law by the general
consent OF mankind. The fourth essential cement
the We and the M to Sy the
duty which springs not only out OF the very nature
q Eedlock PIT 4 imposed BY Divine command; the
both duty and pleasure enforced and protected
by inspired authority. II Is the means chosen by
nST M
husband and wiie-become one 1esh IN domestic
fortunes, and In the production ana training Of
children. Domestic life Is mutual battle, and the
husband and wife are to be one against "the world,
the flesh and the devil" They are to share each
There mutual relations and duties to be observed
and performed on the part Of husband and wife and
obedience protection and gratitude and mutual
affection are the sum OF domestic duties.
What are the rights Of MARRIAGE -, me S husband
wife and of the household. He is the priest OF the
family ana the appointed executive or Gods law.
Ivy entwines the sturdy oak, "a thing OF beauty,n
and "a Joy forever seeking protection of the grand
to the man. for he is her legal protector appointed
by the Almighty and recognized by the CIVIL law.
Heis to provide for her mood, rament aud dwell
Ing" and he who Will not protect the woman whom
he has swsrn at the bridal altar to protect is un-
worthy OF his manhood, unworthy OF the divine
image IN which he was created. These rights may
be declined from choice of cebacy, but when once
assumed they are perpetual and can cease only
But what are the muniments of marriage Tina
s what ale the defences OF this exalted condition.
First, its innocency. The union OF man or woman
III wedl0ck Is essentially holy, and when assumed
according to law is as pure as Eden. Second, its
honorableness. Marriage Is honorable In all, and
ers Cod viii Judge" Then come the anctlons OF
law first the Divine and then the human. Around
this hallowed institution that has come down to US
from the nOwery groves OF Eden God has
thrown the awful sanctions OF Mount Sinai; and
Jesus, the Divine Teacher, who spake as never man
around it the solemn sanctions or Divine legsla-
tIon. Then, subordinate to- but In harmony with It,
the face Of the globe marriage is not only recognized
but Is protected by law. Next comes the affinity OF
the sexes Coo has ordained In the very constlt1;
e eaeS Sner a The is i natura m asuS
expressive OF law unwritten but as true as
the law of gravitation, and as binding as the law
given on Mount Sinai. There are lew II any excep-
lions to that law. Lastly comes the providentiai
numerical equality OF the sexes. As II the Great
Creator would protect this hallowed institution
which He founded in Eden, lie has
ordered that there shall be an equal
proportion of males and females In all countries.
1t Is great mystery to US how this proportion Of
males and females is maintained. Psychologists
have never been enabled to discover the law by
which this equality has been preserved. Some re-
fer 1t to one thing and some To another care not
which stands out IN bold relief, and has never been
successfully cOntradlcted and disproved. AS no law
has yet been discovered by which the effect Is pro-
duced, we ascrlbe 1t to the immediate operations OF
God and consider 1t one Of His reserved rights.
Such Is clear, unvarnished statement and expo.
Eden embracing therein The design, the nature the
obligations, the essential elements, the rights and
the muniments OF marriage. And OF such wcdl0ck,
and Of such only, can 1t be said OF the persons
therein united, "What, therefore, God hath Joined