The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-18
YOUNG WOMEN AND MARRIAGE.
Rev -. j. Smith Gave Advice to
Prospective Wives.

Young Women and Marriage" was the
subject of the sermon preached by Rev.
Arthur<J. Smith last night at the First
Presbyterian Church. His text was drawn
from Genesis, 24:5S and 81.
The pastor said that marriage is not
a mutual agreement between a man
and a woman; it is not a social partner
ship; a civil contract, or even a religious
ceremony. Marriage is a union. In
Matthew. nineteenth chapter and fifth
verse, the Lord says: "a man shall leave
father and mother and cleave unto his
wife,
THE word 'cleave'" said Mr.. Smith,
means stick to- or be glued to- This
union is a divine institution. In true
marriage, God joins the man and the wo-
man together"
Mr.. Smith then spoke of some of the
motives that actuate some women to
marry that always bring disaster. Some
women marry men just 10 get rid of
them. He has heard of quite number
of such cases They are never happy
Others marry just to pique a man who
has Tilted them, just out of spite, to let
chem know they can get married. Such
are never happy. Some women marry
men TO reform them. Mr.. Smith said he
didn't believe a man who did not love
a woman enough before marrying to re-
form would not love her enough after
Many such women have gone through life
with aching hearts.
Some" the pastor declared, marry TO
gain social position. Thev risk their all
TO shine in sociery: will even gamble
with Gods best gift, love, for the title of
countess or lady. The daily papers are
IL
American girls.
Some marry for money. It's no crime
for a girl who is poor 10 marry a rich
man. 1t does not occur often. M. Smith
warned roor girls to beware of riHl men
who paid them attention. He said there
were many hidden rocks and shoals in
the matrimonial sea.
The pastor said some marry for fear
they will become old maids. Only light
minded people make fun of old maids.
Many a woman who has passed middle
life without marrying can give a more
honorable reason fer remaining single
than many of her sisters who have rushed
heedlessly into The marriage state. II is
better to be an old maid than
illmated. "A life of loneliness is far
better than loveless marriage" Single
blessedness is infinitely better than double
cussedness."
Marry your equal" said Mr. Smith
Your equal Intellectually There can be
no true happiness in q home where a
highly intellectual woman is married to
an ignorant man. Marry your equal So
cially. Don't marry a man away above
or below you in the social scale. Marry
your religious equal. The Bible forbids
Christian marrying an unbeliever Dis
regarding and disobeying this command
has been the cause of many unhappy
marriages."
Mr.. Smith said he believed matches were
made In heaven. and he also said he be-
lieved some were made In hell There
are some homes" he said, that are like
heaven on earth, while there are others
that are like hen'
Mr.. Smith will preach on Happy
Homes, or How to Make the Home
Heaven on the Earth" next Sunday
evening. The choir sang several cho ce
selections last night, but the one that WIS
most enjoyed was the ladies' quartette
that sang, Gently Lord. oh Gently Leaf
Us" an adaptation from an old Welsh
air. after the sermon. The ladies voices
blent beautifully.