Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-04-01

| that through the ceremony Of marriage, they
| pledge themselves "in a solemn covenant,
| sgainst all duality or diversity - how would
! 1t do then, land here comes in T.. puzzle)
TO insert & proviso in the contract, that " in
| reference to some Of the most important rela-
tions of this lie, the parties may have not only
| different and diverse, but mutuslly contradic-
tory and hostile interests, aims and plans -
The puzzle here is wholly in rs brain.
Instead Of regarding the plain facts q life, ne
! allows himself to be deluded by words, and to
be misled by figures of speech True it is
that the relations Of husband sni wife are so
close and intimate. or ought to be, that We may
well say Of them, they are one they twain
shall be one flesh But this is only figure Of
speech, to express the ccseuess Of the relations
of the twain a. was said Of the bread. - this
is my body" There is nothing mystical about
marriage, unless it be in the " heavenly mar
riage'' Of Swedenborg. Neither party is in
fact Transmitted into the other, nor is there in
feet q third compound created dstiact from
each. The identity Of each is in fact preserved
in presence, mind. Conscience, will and so the
responsibilities Of each. IN fact they are twain
still, but with relations 50 intimate, (this
" union in PARTITION that We may well
speak Of them as Ons-eyen as " one ds,h.' 80
There is then, in the marriage ceremony no
" solemn covenant against all duality or iirer-
SHY It would be great profanity well
IS absurdity, so TO covenant for the impossible.
Doubtless il IS the duty Of husband and
wife 10 conform 10 each other, rs far a. posi-
bic, in 81 things; and, where this i impossi-
ble to b5 tolerant of an disagreement ir loving
charity To this extent they do pie lge them
selves in the covenant Of marriage but no further
Nay, it happens every day that men and
women are joined in marriage who are under
stood TO differ ia reference 10 the highest rela-
tons Of iie and are expected to differ, bet with
tolerance, in the matter Of religion the eiuca-
ton Of children, &c. What minister can sub
ject the candidates to catecbism 10 these and
like subjects before tying the ind ssoluJic knot,
and p-onouncing beneiiction
conclude then, that Il has e" misrepiesentei
tue marriage unity aui has " iu;siu,erpreted
the marriage relation inst he h., leluded
himself With a theological fancy, the literal
ness of the Interpretation Of the d" one flash 80
Of scripture. Following the like fancy, he
ought 10 be a tTansubstsntator. tli- is ny
body
But suppose u to be right, and that the two.
being about TO be made one, DO d" pledge them
selves 20 each other, fl- better AMI .ll worse,
IN solemn covenant, sgsinst all duality, or di-
yersity,' sui suppose, by i'll fortune, tley DO
cone 20 have " not 5liy different and diverse,
but mutually contradictory and hostile interests
aim. and plans what then Which is in
fault, Which shall yield 10 the other
By the terms OF the proposition iey
maze uo joint pledge 9 4 superior who may
judge qf ami pauish the infractiou Of the cove.
nlut, but 60 each other e,ch an ildepen-
dent and responsible soul II ee say that the
covenant implies .lat the wife shall, ir sll con-