The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1895-06-22

that the union is Gods act and not
MANS, union as To which he warns
all that no man must dare To dissolve.
For Immediately afterwards he pro-
nounces them "man and wife. in the
name Of the Father, and Of the Sun. and
of the Holy Ghost and what one does
in the name OF another is understood to
be done in their behalf and pursuant to
their wish.
THE WEDDING FEE.
The custom Of giving a fee to the
minister seems to have double origin.
AS has been said already the idea Of an
offering of some sort belongs to every
act of religion. The parents Of the
woman have made an offering OF her to
the church and through the church. to
the man. The woman has made an
offering to God Of what she received
from the man when he gave her the
ring. by giving it to the minister. The
man must now offer something in return
for what he has received from the
church. To do this appropriately and
to carry out the idea of an Offering. in
stead Of waiting until the bridal party
have left their places, or the people have
left the church, the groom or his best
man should then and there present his
offering to the minister and wait until
it has been duly placed upon the Lords
table as an offering to God This was
formerly the custom in the church when
it was the rule to administer the Com
munion in connection with the marriage
ceremony. But since the administration
OF the communion was dropped. a fee to
the minister is all that is left OF the idea
OF an offering on the part Of the man.
But back of this is to be found another
reason for the giving OF a fee. We give
it in the words of another. Among the
Jews. and generally throughout the
East, marriage was considered as a sort
of purchase which the man made Of the
woman he desired TO marry. And there
fore in contracting marriages, as the
wife brought portion or possession to
the husband, so the husband was OBJ
liged to give her or her parents money or
presents in lieu OF this portion. This
was the case between Hamor. the father
Of Shechem. and the sons Of Jacob with
relation to Dinah. And Jacob. having
no money, offered his uncle Laban seven
years service, which must have been
equivalent to large sum. The same
custom also obtained among the Greeks
and other ancient nations; and il is to
this day the practice in several eastern
countries, particularly among the
DrLses. Turks and Christians who in
habit the country OF the Hashuran, and
also among The modern Scenite Arabs.
or those who dwell in tents"
CONCLUSION.
1t seems quite clear from what has
been said that the marriage ceremony Of
the Episcopal Church is artistic in form
since, in its construction. words, symbols
and acts are gathered from the past and
brought together iEto harmony to ex-
press exactly and simply and appro-
priately the true idea Of the divine in
stitution it always was and now is in-
tended to celebrate as the foundation
stone OF human society. That it is dis
tinctively religi Gus and Christian in its
character throughout. That none who
reject the Christian religion can con-
sistently resort to its use. That the
union intended to be effected therein is
spiritual union which men and women
should not enter into "unadisedly or
lightly, but sOberly. discreetly. advisedly
and in the fear OF God That those who
regard marriage as merely civil contract
which they may at some time desire to
cancel had better not be married by this
ceremony, because it requires acceptance