The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-12-01
MATRIMONY URGED.
Catholic Priests Speak of
the Falling Off in the
Numberof Marriages.
MGR. DE oONclLIo THANKED
Interesting Meeting of st. Michael's
Holy Name society-Other
Churches.

OF marriages in the Newark alocSse' IL"
particularly in Newark, is a matter whlch
has been occupying the attention OF the
priests for some time. In Newark last
Sunday Father White began a crusade
against the young people who are not
married, and in a specially prepared SER
mon delivered a series of home-thrusts
at the marriageable people of his parish
who do not act on the Biblical hint ana
enter into the blessed state of matrimony.
Father Whites sermon has stirred up
the priests in this city, and a number
y of sermons on the same lines are in pre-
paration. As in Newark there has been
a falling off in marriages here. The COM
plant exists in every parish in the city
with two exceptions. The pastor of one
of the largest down town parishes gave
the following explanation yesterday TO
a reporter of 1.-THE Jersey City News"
A PASTORS EXPLANATION.
1.-The difficulty lies in our present high
state of culture and the higher social
standard as it exists even among the
poor. The average young American 10
begin with, has been given a good edu-
cation, and it has aroused a desire lot
a more costly style of living than he can
afford on a small salary. Young men ana
women dress better and enjoy more eX-
pensive l~uxuries than their parents ever
dreamed of. Young people earning mod
crate salaries can keep up this style ana
get a great deal of pleasure out OF lie.
Young women, as far as 1 can learn
are as anxious for matrimony as ever;
\ young men, too are DESTROYS of entering
that state, but they are afraid to take
the step on the small incomes they have
They know it takes nearly all they earn
to keep themselves, and they rear 10
assume the responsibility of a wife and
a home. The young woman that is dear
est to the young man always appears
with good clothes. and he is afraid that
he could not keep her in the style IN
which she is able to keep herself. Then
there is the question of housekeeping.
The average young man when he settles
Ndown for life has made up his miro
that he is going TO live on a better, style
than his old fashioned parents, and he
Z is going to have just as pretty a furnish
ed house as his friends; and until he
can see his way clear to this he is going
to remain single and enjoy himself. THAI
is, 1 think, the main reason for the
decreased number of marriages. This
false pride and modern vanity is the
u II O1Ao R&SG
and the present day culture is in many
Instances merely another word for do
nestle extravaganza. When young peo-
Pile realize that there is just as much
peace and happiness in rooms plainly
furnished as there was forty years ago
then will the number of marriages in
crease. Lace curtains do not make love
in a home, and plush covered furniture
does not make life a bed of roses"
Another priest, after speaking in a gen.
\ raj way on the subject of marriage,
hid he bewailed the dearth of marriages
( In his parish this year as being against
the best interests of all social laws.
Yes" said he, 'there has been a
most noticeable falling off in marriages
In my parish during the past six months,
and 1 must say that I see no valid
4 excuse for this state of things. Ny
= parishioners are not all old people, nor
j are they all married. There is no scar
city of young men in the parish. All
C of them are not rich in this worlds goods
but they are rich in youth, health and
strength, and all they need to complete
:, their lives and round out their happi-
ness are wives.
HARD TIMES THE CAUSE.
: mo doubt the present hard times have
: something to do with the decrease in the
number of marriages, many young men
being out of positions, while those who
have employment feel that their situa-
tions are not secure enough to warrant
d taking on the added responsibility of a
ST wife. 1 believe hat all young men as
soon as they arrive at a manageable
q BE should be converted into husbands.
Eoung men of the present age, when not
harried, drift into bad company, learn
/ to drink and carouse, and very often fall
J to degradation. Son etimes they are not
to blame. Living in a boarding house,
Ipas many young men do, is not exactly
kind of a life that suits young men.
*hFhey want companionship and enjoy
afnent, and as a result go, out into the
astreet, seek companions and go elsewhere
flor ~enjoymeIsts. The boarding house is
then visited only when meals and sleep
are wanted. If they marry they have
a home and happiness, providing they use
care in selecting a life partner. Before
marrying a young man should be posi-
tive that he loves his intended wife and
that his love will not change, after the
knot is tied. He should not marry a
syoung lady whose disposition opposes his,
Sand for this reason he should deliberate
fIcarefully and slowly. But | have found
That young men seldom make these mis-
kes. When persons marry they most
~yariably are happy thereafter. When
|A e. iIC waits dllLI1 1T - lii ~ ' 49,
q before he decides to marry, he usual
enters married bliss with a rush, not
living due consideration as to whether
lis wife's disposition will oppose him or
moi. I have found that the larger part
.lf domestic trouble is due to this long
wait. and for this reason I would adj
wise marriage at early age insted of in
middle life. 1t is certainly the duty of
the Church to encourage marriage, and l
am glad that the priests Of our city
4 have taken the mater in hand. 1t is
necessary for the well-being of church
N7nd society, and I can see no valid excuse
For the present state of things. | be-
- love that in every parish there should
Ne an association formed to bring young
sstaeonle together at entertainments or
5sceptions. The young people would at
Lnd. Mutual attachments would arise
Ia matrimony ensue. If the priests wish
L MT an end to the dearth of marriages
~ think this would be the most practica-
Ne way of reaching the desired result"
kACRED HEART LITERARY SOCIETY
Interesting Meeting at st. Mary's
Academy Tuesday Evening.
1.-THE Sacred Heart Literary Society of
a.. Mary's Academy held its regular
~$aonthly entertainment at the Academy,
Bn Erie street and Payonia avenue, on
Tuesday evening. The society meets
Nffery Tuesday, the objects Of the meet
Az being to advance the members in
AKA -A,~o1o- Af ,aJ1ri1c of