The evening times., 1900-03-05

SHAMOKIN. Pa, March 5.-Rev. Father
Joseph J. Koch. pastor of St. EDWARDS
Roman Catholic Church. in this city, and
vicar general OF the Harrisburg diocese,
is heartily in accord in many respects with
the views Of Rev. Father MeEnroe. of
South Bethlehem. upon the marriage ques-
tion. He thinks that marriages are falling
of woefully, but that the young women as
well as the men are at fault
Rev. Father Koch says: Father Nc
Enroe is right In the first place mar
riage is necessary according to God and
nature. In ST. Edwards Church, which
embraces membership OF about 500 fami-
lies. there are 200 young men and 800
young women who should be welded. 1
occasionally from the pulpit and frequently
in person advise the young folk Of my flock
to become married. for IL makes better
men and women OF them.
ITO demonstrate how marriage has fall
IN of in my pastorate. records show that
in 1879. when l presided over congrega-
tion Of 400 families at Locust Gap, and at
this place. there were As marriages. Last
year in 500 families there were 40 mar
riages annually to every 100 families A
large percentage of the young men Of my
parish are improyident Today they nave
scarcely one dollar TO their names. Some
of them earn from $50. $40, $50, and 500
I per month. and a few earn more than that.
But soon after pay day their salaries
! are consumed by foolish expenditures The
! young men are lured to the dance hall.
saloons. and other places where vice ex-
! lists. They indulge in the pleasure OF the
| hour. never needing what the future may
/ bring forth. They ape the customs OF the
wealthy and float along on the waves OF
/ so-called enjoyment until in the end. when
they get out OF work or become I'll, they
/ are cast high and dry on the shoals OF de-
spair.
The young women first Of all do not
/ marry because they want 10 step into
I places where their mothers left Of. Tn
| derstand, their mothers cultivated the
/ sweets of home after years Of endeavor
I Why should not girls OF today also be Will
| ing to undertake so bright a task? They
1 are not to be blamed for refusing to en-
/ courage the young man 70 marry when ne
| cannot take care Of himself.
The young men Of my parish are moi
too beshful TO propose marriage. They
I simply associate with the girls for the so
/ ciety OF the hour, feeling that II they were
I TO persist IN their attentions they might
! fall in love with the maidens and in tn,
! end be refused their hands in marriage.
The young men think they should hav'
| a house and interior fitted up like man
I sion before they feel sure the girls vii
| accept them. The girls expect to adopt I
| style OF living which they know my yOunl
Z male parishiOners cannot afford OF coU~s
/ there are some OF the young women WHIT
will marry even though the man be poor
But he must have health. an honest heart
/ be generous and Industrious Such a mai
| say. is good enough for any girl in M
parish.
Young men should not become married
| until they are twenty-One years old
| Young women should not think OF enter
ing the matrimonial state until they ar,
from twenty TO twenty-five years old
They should be willing to make home Z
paradise for their ambitious husbands