The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-08-17
Marriage.

| rash.
Marriage.
There can be no doubt. that the most i'm
important act in the life of either man or
woman is that of marriage, and it is not only
desirable that each should meet its 'other
SELF" but that they should have the necessary
means Of entering upon that new sphere OF
life. To some few the last consideration is OF
no moment, but the majority carefully consider
that important question. There is an old
English axiom that is worthy of note, which
reads:
Before you marry
Have house wherein to tarry."
All agree upon the wisdom of this precept,
but the serious question has been how to get
1t. When young couple haPPyin their bud
ding love contemplate the hereafter OF the
action, then come the difficulties. If they,
destitute of more than ordinary yield OF the
days labor. resolve to unite their for
tunes and wait for the necessaries
Of the new state, they enter life seriously han
dicapped and so weig hted that if they do not
fall by the wayside, they only reach happiness
and prosperity by very hard and rough track,
in which both are injured in either heart or
spirit On the other hand, if they are what
the world calls prudent, and resolve to wait
until they can get the wherewith to start on
the matrimonial journey, there are still difficult
ties in the way there is the misery Of an other
wise unnecessarily prolonged engagement, the
danger that "hopes deferred may make the
heart sick" and lead to estrangement that may
blight the life of either one or both of the
lovers, ana there is, as we often see from pro-
longed engagement, the danger OF immortality.
In either case, the way of the would-be as
pirants are fraught with so many difficulties
that instead of seeing the many happy marri-
ages of the past, we see fewer marriages
sanctioned by divine blessing, and greater i'm
morality. This is admitted by all writer's upon
social questions, and is undoubtedly positive
fact The question then arises how can this
system be rectied? The only way is to pro-
vide the would-be matrimonialist with funds,
so that when they are ready they may marry,
and when married they may have the where
with to start their new life in proper manner.
But how could this be done? This is the
problem that has pnzzled phlanthropists fo'
years, ond yet the answer was so simple tina,
it commends itself to all. 1t lay in the grand
principle that "the many can help the one
where the one cannot help the many" 1t was
simply an insurance system by which the in
,ured, instead of receiving the benefits only
at death, when it was Of no use to him, re-
ceived it when it was of the greatest possible
service to him-at the offset of his married
life. But if he did not claim or receive it a,
such period then it was paid at death.
Thus it was that marriage associations sprang
into existence, and although some have failed
from mismanagement the majority, properly
worked, have been successful, and have done
a great amount of good.
San Antonio has now its Marriage Associa-
ton, which exists under the title of the Alamo
Endowment Association, which is fully Or
ganized and chartered. Its officers are in
Itself sufficient guarantee Of the bona hdes OF
the affair. The Hon. A. w. Houston, our
representative in the legislature, is president;
Col. H. w. Wilson, vice-president; S. G.
Newton, (city attorney, San Antonio), is sec
ford, J. d. Cotton and o. M. Kern. The
funds are deposited with the San Antonio
national bank. The avowed object of the
society are to endow its members with GER
tain sum, payable upon marriage, and to pro-
mote matrimony, consequently morality and
economy, and its plan is certainly conducive
| to accomplishment of the object.
Any person, a white male or female, can be
a member on payment Of small membership
fee, annual subscription and OF assessment
upon marriage or death Of members. He is
entitled to participate in benefits and to assure
the sum of So, ooo S., 600, So, 900 at marriage,
and if the marriage does not take place for
twenty five months after initiation, the member
receives the full sum assured. Ii, however
he marries any time after being four months a
member, he receives liberal proportion Of
the amount assured, which is paid within
forty-two days of the wedding day. If he
marries before the fourth month of member
ship he forfeits all benefits. A gentleman may
also enter his fancee as member OF the asso-
citation. registering her name as his future
wife, and thus providing for the unknown fan
one.
But'some one will say suppose / do not
marry, what then? Why, the answer is, that
in five years he can claim and will receive the
full sum as though he had married. Thus
converting the scheme into a useful savings
bank.
Should member die before marriage or
maturity of policy, the Association contract to
pay over to the deceased members relatives
an assessment OF onelOurth Of the value Of the
policy up to date-oi course, il the policy was
matured he would receive the full amount.
We have shown the necessity for an asSo-
citation such as the Alamo Endowment Asso
citation, and we have given an outline of its
prospects aud plans. We advise those who
seek further information to call or write to
Mr.. S G.. Newton at his office, No. ; Maver
ick building, who will gladly furnish the
reader with all further information upon this
important subect
a.