The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-13
THE MARRIAGE ALTAR
Sermon On Matrimouy BY Rev. !. D. Lam.
klu, Pastor II First Baptist Church.
LOVE. PURITY AND RELIGION ESSENTIAL
HAPPY, Peaccful Home Must Have
These--Latter an Impregnabie
safeguard.

Rev. u. y. Lemktn oiu not uehNer NE
special sermon to clerks and stenogra-
piers, announced for yesterday morning.
on account OF the light attendance result
AMI on the severely cold weather. The
sermon will be delivered next Sunday.
At last nights services Rev. Lamkin
addressed his congregation on the sub
3ect of Beyond the Marriage Altar.
What? Light or Shadow taking for bis
text the following from Matthew XIX. 5.
For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother and cleave unto his
wife and they twain shall be one flesh
and Can two walk together except they
be agreed" from Amos III, 3.
THE fret OF my text said the minis
ter. sis a quotation from an ancient doc
! cment written in the earliest ages OF the
world Its author is unknown. IL was
compiled by Moses in his first FIVE DOCKS
known to the world as the PenLaIeueh.
But Jesus quotes II as conclusion oil an
argument wnica he male TO the Pnaii-
sees on the sanctily oil marriage ana tue
Illegally of divorce. Ana tnls christ, tnc
master. teacher and pignest crilic ot ali
the ages, gives 10 the tirst chapters of
Genesis the sanction OF divine authority.
the Eden OF God and has never wI.nefed,
though struck by the blasts OF SIX chou
sana years. My second text cnunclate3
"A common TACT OF human lie lRfrfouy al
discOrd All life was harmc htsus tn ths
beginning ol the history pf eLF race, but
sin sIrnck the secret chofds aud siAce
that iatal moment lie mas uech lihe =
magnificent musical Instrument "ith kpyB
broken and sounding out OF tune And
ali through these ages men and women
have been asking Is life worth living
They seek TO make the most OF life and to
regain happiness and contenlment by part
nership With another heart. a pafener-
ship OF love, possibilities and destiny.
And. though history iits mp her bloeeed
ana voiceless page to convince the world
OF the denger cf reckless use OF that
ring which is sublime emplem OF a sa-
cred union and holy vows. people VIII 20
en- making plumbers and breaking hearts
and wreching lives.
My theme rs beyond the Marriage Al
tar What? But. hrst. let MS pause to
realize the grandeur of this altar in tho
first flash OF the mystic ring Here stapd
Two Inortals In the sunshine of their
first JOY. loved by all, adored by one
whose added love fils the Drumming cup
of JOY even too tuli Here is the scent OF
orange blossoms, the murmur Of music,
the lisp of prayer, tue perfume of vows.
A pathway of promise opens into the sweet
GSl HE Niihl udIIHS GOuTuSS III Inc
man. He promises 10 take that tender
yong liec in safety across an unkna wn
and pertlous sea strewn with countless
wrecks. And what magnificent cont
dence In the woman who practically says.
i have but one life to live, but | entrust
II t. your care But before they take
their departure shey should recognize tho
forgotten fact that they ere equal, that
sliey are me, This fact has the sanction
of divine authority. And they twain shall
be one flesh. After the marriage cererno-
ny was performed, an old FARMER was told
that he must remember that man and
wife are one. to which he replied, Yes,
but am the one But they re nevertheless
one: one in heart one in name one in
interest one in happiness, character ana
destiny. II should be understood Mt the
start that they are equal in every respect.
The first sacred institution in their nup-
tial history, their first camping place In
their journey, Is called home. What
sweeter visi II than that of the old home.
Let me take away the covering that OBJ
literates the past that the old picture may
stand cut again as in the days that have
home We would see all the faces OF
loved ones whose dust we have covered
with flowers and hear the songs that
mother used 10 sing ere her voice was
hushed In everlasting silence But the
faded picture Is gone aud n bright fresh
one stands before US. There is crented q
new home. You set up your own house
hold. and eternal ages of light or dark
ness are watching the starting out, lie,
me warn you against some of the periif
that threaten this holy instituton--tht
home. The first of these I mention Is the
invasion of the eStravagant claims OF mod
ern society. which will inevitably brinl
dissatisfaction. discord and unhappinnss
Nothing IL more destructive of the home
ahan society us II Is TODAY. You can mo-
be indifferent to this fact. Watch FOL
yourself and you will see the color upor
the gold of the mystic ring change ans
with II the light III the face OF the girl
now woman with woman's cares Thi
is the early shadow with its longer line
in her face and in her eyes the light o
wounded love. This home stands in pain
full contrast to the old one. Its inmate
have started wrong; they are victims o
fashion with all tho unwritten history o
that word. So changes the ring of 10Y,
into the carmine shadows of jisappoint
ment. A star looks out In sympathy an,
kisses the falling tear into a SPARKLE Blu
home has its splendid safeguards and de
Tense. Tho first ] name Ia the fidelity o
love. Love Is the only bow on life,
dark cloud" M mere DWELLING place Is I
home. II REQUIRES hearts that are dear
true and loyal. and without these nttrlb
ufes MI places are alike. Then there mus
be perfect wealth OF purity Hers
woman reigns supreme II she Wills. Til
erfni than courage.
"Mightier far
Than strength Of nerve, or sinew or tn,
sway
or mario potent. over sun and star.
Isloye; though oft n agony distressed
And though his fayorite seat be feebl,
woman's breast"
Home should be the center Of attraction
rs Longfellow said:
Each mans chimney is his golden mile
stone:
Is tho central noirt from which he meas.
''res every distance
Throurh me gatewsys Of the world around
him."
Home should he adorned With pictures
tofkT and music nut must odd that
THE diviucst adornmenf ~ the homo IL tbs
reiigiop ~ Jesus christ This Is its
strength, It's fnv. nrd-iis inprernuble safo-
guard IA faIf,iIv ribln. family prayer md
fnui1y church makes home place whore
Gad'g honor dweils. Srch homo 81 a
sigpi6eNpf type n the kingdom pf heaven
the iinnprfel home beyond the disrorda OF
hsrmonx ~ this lite, where thero ara Mo
4 hrokep ties. nor vacant chairs. nor with