The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-08-29
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
IHElR OBLIGATIONS TO ONE ANOTHER
INTELLIGENTLY DISCUSSED.
Ihey Should Bear and Forbear, Love
and Live in the Fear of God-Matri-
mony Partnership In Which Both
are Equally Observation-Disclosures
Reading For Husbands and Wives.

mony Partnership In Which Botl,
are Equally Interested-Wholes
Reading For Husbands and Wives.
| The following is synopsis of a ser
mon recently preached in Richmond
Va, by Rev. l.. r. Thornbill, as pub
lIshed in the Dispatch. That paper
says:
Mr.. Thornbill took as his subiebt,
"The Mutual Relations of Husband
and Wife, selecting as text Ephe-
slams v. 26: Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the
Church and gave Himself for it," and
Collosslans ILL.,, I8: "Wives, submit
yourselves unto your own husbands, as
1t Is fit in the Lord" The preacher
said in part:
"An old Spanish proverb quantity
puts before US stupendous fact: .He
that goes far to marry goes to be de-
celved or to deceive. The day you
marry you kill or cure YOURSELF How
many have put nails in their coffin lids
on their marriage day? Jeremy Tay-
lor says: ga good wife is Heavens
last, best gift to man, his angel of
mercy, minister of graces innumerable,
his gem of many virtues, his casket of
Jewels | would add that a good hus-
band is no less a treasure to a woman.
"Ihese texts which l have chosen"
MIR. Thornhill said further on, "strike
the keynote to the whole situation, and
make right living plain and possible.
Husbands are admonished to love
their wives. Their stern, strong ma
lures and their high sense Of manliness
will make them chivalrous and put
them IN the position of defenders, pro-
tectors, and supporters of their wives.
True love will harness all these noble
impulses and principles and turn them
to conjugal felicity. Wives are ad-
monished to submission. Her place o
one of subc.dination. She needs
special exhortation to love. Her ma
ture flows that way, and where her
esteem and interests arc centered love
will do its part without bidding.
81 have been asked over and over
again to leave out oi the marriage GER
emony the word obey My reply
has been, why should l leave it out,
when the Word Of God has laid such
specific emphasis upon that condition
of the marriage contracte Man is,
indeed, made the ruler, the head Of
the home, and to the wife is given the
subordinate place. But this subord-
nation does not mean servile subjec-
ton. Nor does it mean that the wo-
man has no distinctive sphere in the
home. She has her sphere, in which
she is superior to the man, and where
she rules as queen.
e'is there less required of the man
than the woman? Certainly not.
The love required of him is not mere
sentiment, which is to be appropriately
expressed in overwrousht poetical af-
feCtions, IN moonlit lovers retreats,
but it is love unto self-sacrihce; yes,
| it should be love unto death. 1t
must be stronger passion than he
has for the society of men, a passion
which will break his relations with the
club house, the pool-room, the csfd-
table, and the saloon, and bind him
as with hooks Of steel TO the home.
If you would study the finest pic
ture of human happiness, pick out in
your acquaintance we'll mated couple,
who in the fear OF the lord. have
blended their lives and are living to-
gether in all the ordinances Of God S
Word. Such a picture. The Divine
intent was to present in every home.
But even in the best ordered mar
riages, where hearts are joined in the
fear of the Lord, we may naturally
expect some friction. Two pcrsans
having reached the age OF maturity,
different in tastes and habits, thrown
og1t.,ef 10 shape one course, will nat.
urally differ. Sharp friction will fol,
low, which will amount to irritation
if special effort is not aade to prevent
such result This practical question
then comforts US: How may a hus.
band and wife so bear their respective
relations as to produce the least fIic
ton and promote the greatest happi
ness? X Let tho husband and
wife learn loving forbearance. This i!
especially needtul on the part of ths
one who prides himself on being the
stronger of the two. He should no
seek to bend too suddenly to his i'm
perious will that OF the weaker vessel
lest he be sadly disappointed in his es
, innate of himself, or, on the Other
hand cruelty crush tenderer spirit
Keep in mind the contract upor
which the partnership was made. l
is partnership, yes, verify a partner
ship into which each party puts thei
entire capital. In sickness and il
health, in poverty and in wealth, toI
veal or for woe, We are one. But il
how many homes the woman is ex
pected to be the silen. partner.
"Alas, some of the lords Of creation
} conclude that women have no hrxiaes
! capacity, and are not entitled 10 know
anything Of the husbands affairs. Blu
she is often her husbands best adviser
. Consult woman, who must shat
your success measurably, and you
failure unmeasuIab.y, beyond al
others, SO. also, the wife should re
. member the partnership and no
ruin her husband by extravaganza an,
3 debt. A sad story fell upon my ear
: not long ago OF wife who demande,
, | IS bax ,bot La