The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-20
THE DIGNITY OF MATRIM0NY.
THE SACRED RELATION DISCUSSED
FROM THE PULPIT.

Dignity of Matri1nony shown I'm
the Revealed LOw-Marriage in
Its Relation to SoCicty-AdOIcscent
Trips to South Carolina Condemn
cd-A Second Ceremony Regarded
as Detrimental to This Dignity.
Divorces Can Too Easily BE Sc
curcd-Tbe Marriage OF a PrCmi-
nent Couple Is Mentioned.
The marital relation and the dignity
that should support it was discussed by
the pastor, Rev. A. NJ. Williams. last
Those who heard the sermon were greatly
impressed.
The text was drawn from Hebrew 1874:
Marriage is honorable in ALL"
THE subject of marriage" said Mr..
Williams, lis clothed with an atmosphere
of universal and intense interest It is
one of the events that God has endowed
with special significance. There is a ten
dency at present to lower the ideal of this
relation, which is one of the sad signs of
the day. Anything which belittles this
important relation is danger point in our
civilization; is fraught with only evil to
our humanity
Marriage, while its associations are
those of pleasure and JOY, is one of the
most solemn contracts man is capable of
making. 1t is intended by God to be
treated with, profound seriousness. He
has clothed it with dignity attaching to
all those who make public opinion to do
all in their power to have marriage held
in that dignity.
The dignity of matrimony Is shown in
the way 1t is presented in the revealed
will Of God. There we are taught that it
was instituted by God as one of the pri-
mary orders for the welfare of mankind;
that 1t separates the parties from former
associations and makes a new, intimate,
sacred union; that it is taken as the SYM
bolism of the mystical union of Christ
and his church. Such an institution
should not be regarded fippantly; it should
not be entered into unadvisedly, but rev.
erently discreetly, adVisedly and in the
fear of God.
The relation should be regarded with
dignity on account of the nature of the
union. 1t is not a contract of a day. but
of a lifetime; not of many, but of most
absolute eXclusiveness; not of mere con-
tire nature of two human beings Think
of spending a life time in the company of
one person. Nothing but the most pro-
found satisfaction in that person should
induce the union. The thought of a pos
sible dissolution of it In the future should
not be considered for moment. Regard
ed in this light flippancy has no place"
Mr.. Williams said that the dignity of
matrimony is further found in it's relation
to its issue, and that is one of the rea-
sons of its institution. "a barren mar
rage ought not to be contemplated The
interest of the unborn generation should
be delcately regarded by society and by
all parties to marriage. Mock modesty IS
positive sin in matter of such supreme
import. Those of US who have seen the
wretchedness of the young brought on by
the thoughtless marriages of the past APP
preciate the need of thinking of the flu
ture. The health, the character, the des-
tiny of immortal human beings depend
on the actions of the young of the pres
ent. Frivolous engagements and mock
marriage alignments must be regarded
with sadness. When we see young men
sapping their manhood in vicious, trivial
habits young women growing up vain,
giddy, self-indulgent We tremble to think
Of the future
Marriage must be considered I'm its
dignity from it's relations 10 society. The
family is the social unit. Marriage makes
the family. So society has a profound in
terest in 1t. Flippant cOurtship leads to
frivolous marriage; frivolous marriage re-
suits in degraded homes; degraded homes
lower the social state; lower social state
makes poorer citizens, weaker churches,
degenerate workers.
Society then has an interest in this sub
ject of supreme character and all its or
gans should rally to mend tendencies
fraught with evil The press and the pull
pit must speak In no uncertain terms.
Those who have strong personalities
should protest against the tendency TO low
er the dignity of this sacred institution.
let us look" said the speaker, Eat
some OF the evidences of the lowering of
this dignity. First, the many ill-considered
marriages brought to our attention by the
press. Children running away to South
Carolina, too young to know what they
are about, infatuation with the attention
of strangers and the physical appearance.
Il cannot but regard the custom Of two
marriage ceremonies that prevails here,
as calculated to lower the respect of the
public for the institution. 1t puts prem
ium on hasty unions. The process Is; We
can step over to South Carolina and get
married, then our parents will be forced 10
give their consent, and we can easily Sc
cure the endorsement of the church A
wholesome rebuke by the church in refus-
ing to have anything to do with such pro-
cedureS, requiring the c0ntractantS to
look the question squarely in the face, I
believe would have a wholesome effect.
Another reason against the solemnizing of
marriages the second time is the opportun-
tiles given to cloak criminal associations.
Sometimes we do not know that the first
marriage has taken place. Wrong doing
brought to light and confessed Is another
thing The church cannot lend itself to
those customs that facilitates the schemes
of the rascal. the doctrine
believe in Is that one marriage is enough;
once married always married till the scrip
tural bond Is dissolved in q scriptural
way"
Mr.. Williams said that one of the causes
of the lowering of the dignity of ma tri-
mony is In the facility with which divorces
are secured. Making il easy to dissolve
the union produces thoughtlessness in
making unions. This thoughtlessness
makes the courtship and marriage frivo-
lous. I'VE need the dogma of karma in
our social life" he said, and we need to
impress upon the mind of our people the
profound principle whatsoever a man
soweth thGu shall he reap! In eternity that
law cannot be dlsannulled. 1t would edu-