The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-19

first Spiritual Society.
An audience of 800 assembled at Grand
Opera House last night to hear the sub
ject OF Love and Marriage discussed by
DR.. N. F. Ravlin. 1t WAS, he said, the
most important subject pertaining to
human affairs. True marriage was
never failure; false marriage never
success. The main essential to a true
marriage ia too much overlooked, not
only by parties interested but by their
parents, who seek to put their daughters
into the matrimonial market. 1t ia
wrong that money should enter into
consideration, but when a young man
is thought OF in connection with mar
riage the question ia asked, What has
he? What is the sum of his bank ac-
count2 While questions concerning his
character and brains are kept in the
background. II he ia rich he goes into
good society and ia good catch"
Parents are often scrupulous in bringing
up their daughters only to sacrifice
them on the hymsneal altar for money.
That kind of marriage is the curse of
the world today.
The young man promises to love,
cherish and protect when he does not
measured by his luet, and out of such
marriages crime is bred. and the
daughter is doomed to life of wretch
edness aud pain. If the marriage rela-
ton il not dissolved there is death in
that family, a cemetery, q skeleton in
| the closet.
Just now there lie craze to
marry titled aristocrat of the old
world, duke or lord, and miserable
lives are made by it. daughter OF U.
s. Grant made such a mistake il only
half the stories told are true. One
good, level-headed American ia worth
all the sprigs of royalty on the other
side OF the ocean. Give me man, an
American man, one who is every inch q
man, and he will protect and care for
his American girl.
There ic much so-called marriage, but
true marriage ia about as rare as Christ
ian charity. Ladies are sometimes at
trscted by the external contour OF the
man, or by uniform. Some marry
whiskers, or fast horses; but horses die,
whiskers turn gray and uniforms wear
out, and the woman finds at last herself
linked to plain flesh and blood, with
nothing else worth mentioning.
1t ia as natural for woman to love as
for flowers to bloom and for birds to
sing, and the average girl, il her sense
is not blunted by rougher things of life,
is ruled by her affections. The young
man thinks of something else. He cares
only for selfish qualification. 1t is true
that the first thoughts the young man
gives to the opposite sex are suggested
by lascivious companions or obscene
books, and the last engendered grows
with his growth.
The young man who takes advantage
of the confidence and love of young
woman, and leaves her to victimze an.
other, can never be truated as hus
band. Young ladies should remem ber
this. The dual standard of society
which condones in man that which il
condemns in a woman, is responsible fol
much Of the evil. Crime is bred of lust
aud unfsithful husbands and wives
The word OF priest or preacher does not
constitute marriage. We do not deny
the use of the marriage ceremony, but
only affirm that it is too often used &c
bind together two persons who are never
married in the true sense. True love
like water, purifes itself. Nothing on
this side OF the shining stars can do &C
much for young man as good, loving
wife. Criminals are not born in homes
where conjugal love preuails. Hatred is
the seed of murder.
Where would you begin to reform 30
ciety? Just where it is deformed. But
you must not mention it in polite 60
ciety. You must not speak of q snake
rs a snake, hut as one of Gods creatures
nor of rake SIS rake, but IS an agri-
cultural implement. This vital sub
ject, matter that has caused more sor-
row and bloodshed than ell else. must
not be alluded to in public. But you
will have to face the evil and overcome
it or suffer the consequences. Your
children have right to pure father
and mother. One child born with ten
denotes to clean thought is better than
all the titled distinctions of royalty.
But woman ia coming to the front
Bright minds are coming forward to lead
mankind to better conditions. In five
hundred years no man will be found in
felon's cell and houses of prostitution
will be unknown, for righteousness
will cover the earth as the waters cover
the sea-"