Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-10
BuRLEsoUE MARRIAGES,

An account has been received from
New York and published In the local
papers, OF an occurrence at a ball In
Yonkers given by the Jewish Society
there, which has ocasloned much COM
ment and no little CONSERVATION. II
appears that as bit OF fun, II was
proposed that a number Of young cou~
pies there should 30 through the form
OF marriage ceremony, and this was
taken up so thoroughly that a hundred
pairs were thus joined together In mack
matrimony. Hut II afterwards turned
out that The person who oiiicated was
Jewish Rabbi, and that by these cere-
monies the parties were bound together
by the laws OF their church, and there
fore the marriage IL legal In the sight
OF the law. There Is to be consulta-
ton among a number Of Hebrew
ecclesastics over the matter, and their
decision will probably be taken as a
settlement Of the status OF the parties
thus united.
II Is possible that under the
laws OF the State OF New York,
which are very elastic az to
the marriage question, these couples
may be really married, no matter what
the Rabbs may decide. 1t depends
largely on the form of the ceremony.
The intent OF the parties should Of
course be taken into consideration, but
that IA often decided by the nature
OF the contract 1t IL quite likely that
+ great deal OF trouble will arise out
81 this Wholesale burlesque OF sa-
tred ceremony,
The wrong OF engaging In proceed.
ing which casts ridcule upon so sol.
emn an ordinance as holy matrlmony
ought TO be understood by every "a.
tionai being. II Is that which causes
us to mention this matter FOR we con-
slider that all the parties &c II are de-
serving Of the most severe censure 20
say the least. The Rabbi who Off
clated Is unworthy of his sacred office.
He Is not At to ofliclate therein. Jew
ish traditions and Jewish faith regard
marriage as divine Institution, not
80 be entered into except from proper
motives with serious intent. 10 make
a farce of Il, In hilarity and mockery,
Is offensive both to religion and to So
clal custom.
There have been instances In this
State, OF indulgence in this silly and in
excusable pastlme. They have arisen
from lack of appreciation of the sane
tity Of matrimonial union, II is looked
upon too lightly The ease with which
Il can be dissolved In the courts has
much to do with depriving It OF that
solcmnty which should always sur
round It. The idea Is encouraged that
tits but civil contract, which can be
lightly entered into and as lightly dis
solved, and so young people and some
older folks rush into It without due
consideration, and without care as TO
rs probable effect upon their immedi- |
ate or eternal future.
The Importance OF the marriage con-
tract, both as sacred ceremony and |
union that win affect present society
and posterity TO come, ought to be linz
pressed upon the minds OF our young
people and upon persons In every stage
OF human life. A minister Of the Cos
pei who viii lend himself to the per-
Torrance Of mock marriage is foe
to true religion and an enemy TO the
State. Everything of that kind should
be frowned down. and no lady or gem
tleman. with any proper idea OF selt
respect would become a party or as.
slstant In any such breach Of good
and OF good sense.
Amusement and recreation are ntces-
sary, but they can be enjoyed In nu-
merous ways without trespassing upon
the domain OF religion or the ground OF
social order When run becomes riot
BUS or leaps beyond the bounds OF rea-
son and right Il ought TO be stopped
II once, and the seal OF disapprobation
BE- placed upon Il by good people. no
natter what may be their religion or
heir race.