The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-08-20

Ito tie Editor OF The New York Iribans.l
Sin: There is something wonderfully i'm
pressive TO me in the ollen injunction
Whom God has joined let no man put asun-
DER and there i. . deep lesson in it which
venture to say has never been pro-
mulgs,ed from any pulpit 1t is that the re-
lation Of hus rand and wife should be scared
and insiolabls, MT to be inierferei With in
any dgr-e by any human being
IT. a. believe, it was intended IT, at mar
risge should be entered into ms the most
solemn and moraentous step in Hfe--not t.
ken merely because two people, under tie
Influence Of an impul.ive sentiment, believe
they can be happy together, hut because, af-
ter trying and proving themselves, they
know that they cannot be happy without
each il, as believe, j, was in to ndended
thar marriage when eonsumrn ate, should be
dissolved for one reason only, that the hus-
band and wife should b. cae in .ha sight o.
God, thes certainly for any one 10 assume
the position Of q mediator or adviser A. be
mediation Is violsiion Of tie very essence
Of the msrriage covenant.
firmly believe that it WIS intended that
the conhiences Of husband cr wife should be
for each other only THAT every question, ev-
cry difference in opinion or convictions. no
matter how trivial the question or difference,
ba L., sba ~
between themselves exclusively, and never
under any prcte1t be carried elsewhere II
husband wife can take counsel as against
the o'her in any matter. even in the smallest If
domestic details, Of any one. be it the near
e-t relative, the closest friend, the sacred
union is broken and unhappine-s is sure 10
follow.
If these premises be true, it follow. that
the relations which exist in our churches Be,
tween the minister and his parishioners are
false and pernicioDs. mean BY .uch rela-
tons, ministerial visits to the female men,
bers Of the congregation In the absence Of
their husbands and family condolences in.
trusted in the minister under the i,lea cur.
rent with many that minister, BY yirta, Of
his office, is the proper recipient Of such con-
h.lence. | believe that there is son Ching
radically wrong in ali this, and that people
are beginning to realize the fact.
1t will not he denied, / think, that i,
would be clearly wrong for any man other
than minister TO visit other men wives in
their husbands absense; wrong, il for no
other reason because both parties would be
exposed to mi.oonstruction and scandal.
venture to say tina, no righ,-minded man
least Of all married men, would make such
visits and that no rightminded women woul
desire such. Tbs being 50 as to iaymen, is
there anything that renders it proper and
right for minister to make sIch visits or to
receive such conhlences7 Ministers are
neither more nor less than men; they belong
10 "a profession Of which it cen TO more be
said that all its members are pure and vir-
tuous because the profession is high ore,
than it can be said that all lawyers are ho,-
est and honorable because the aim Of the law
is to secure justice.
They have no more blnim to exemption
from the operation Of The great principal Of
interference between hu.bsnd and wife
than any other man or woman in the conInu-
nifty They should be the last people in the
world, Judged by their professions, who
should be instrumental in putting asunler
what God has joined.
The doctrine that the minister is the
proper and safe adviser in family matters is
the dang erous doctrine Of the confessional,
il makes Of man more than man can ever
claim TO be, and is n snare and temptation to
those who by reason Of weakness can most
ready be Convinced tEat there is something
mcritorious in seeking such advice, and who
stand most in neei of protection n, .ins temp
tatiou. Ii is idle to say that such views are
prudisb that the instances rh'rs GOOD ha.
lied from such ministeri,. itc rs are
many and the evil results few. We are not
taught to seek temptation that we may resist
it. but TO pray that may not DO led into
temptation
And whatever can hedge about the puritys
and sanc,ty Of tie marriage relation, and
keep far from our lives and home. even the
opportunity for evil, should be cherished a
the shield OF honor, which should be iearer
than life c. W.
New York, Aug, 10. 1894.