The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-07-22
COUkTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.
An Interesting Subject Treated in Inter
esting Way.
News and Courier, July 18th.
At Citadel Square Baptist Church

delivered the third Of most inter
esting series Of FIVE sermons. The
general topic of the series is, "The
Journey Of Life as illustrated in
the life of one of the most interesting
characters in the Old Testament. The
particular subject of the sermon last
night was "Courtship and Marriage =
and the speakers helpful and practi-
cal treatment Of the theme enlisted
the closest attention Of his audience.
The text was taken from Proverbs
1922, "Whoso fndeth wife fndeth
good thing and obtaineth favor Of
she Lord" DR.. Ramsey's sermon was
IN part as follows:
The marriage tie is thought Of
God heart. To ask if marriage is n
failure is to suggest that God crown
ing purpose for man was q cruel and
futile mistake. Men may fail and wo-
mon may fail, but Gods institutions
fail never. The Bible places highest
honor upon this institution. 1t is
worthy of note that the loftiest and
grandcst conceptions Of marriage come
from two men of the Bible who never
married-Jcsus and Paul. It is tho
basic principle of the home, and God
has conferred upon US no richer bless
ings in this world than those which
ooyoo tbrouob our bomoo
Yet, while as people, we have a
chivalrous regard for the institution
Of marriage, we are doing it scant JUS
tice. Our State treats it in q digni
fed, step.motherly way, establishing
no legal age for entering into this most
important relation, providing no pre-
liminary legal requirements and fail
ing to secure faithful record of all
marriages. Oft times public senti-
ment alternates between the mooc of
squeamishness and the treatment Of
the whole subject as joke. The
Churches, instead of giving instruc-
tion and edification to the young, thus
laying broad and strong principles for
guidance, rather have drawn the folds
Of their garments about them and sit
In serene Indifference, listening to the
Pharisee who afirms that these sub
jeots are sensational and should not
be discussed in the pulpit. All the
time this vast body of truthin the in
spired word is passed over in silence,
and meantime. for lack Of it, mistakes
are being made that are irretrievable
and sorrow wells her face and lifts her
piteous vail to Heaven. Here in the
case Of Isaac and Rebekah is an in
spired record whose principles are
minute and perpetual
I. The first item in the text informs
us that the good wife must be sought.
This statement is in fullest accord
with the record relative to procuring
Isaac wife, There are scme prclim-
inaries for finding wife that cannot
be passed over in silence. There must
not be too great haste. There is an
Eastern adage which lays the duty on
the father OF marrying off his son at
the age of 20, but Divine wisdom had
allowed Isaac to reach the age of 40.
You may wonder at tho patience OF
Isaac. Leaving out tho much discuss
cd matter of getting ready to support
wife, there are but few men who
know what sort of wife they are going
to need before they are 30. Still it
must be admitted that many marriages
at an earlier age are successful.
In this ancient account we see great
wisdom displayed in laying emphasis
upon the compatibility Of the couple.
Dickens says there is no disparity in
marriage like that Of unsuitabiiity Of
mind and purpose. That fact is often
forgotten. There were many fair
daughters Of the Aittite princes in tho
land, but they could not come into
Abraham family. Isaao's bride
must be taken from their own nation
and religion. Ignoring this principle
many foir matrimonial ship has been
wrecked in our day. The home that
is at CROSS purposes in politics and re-
ligion is built on sand.
1t was with the profoundest wisdom
chat Abraham took steps to save his
son from too great temptation while
6nding his wife. Therefore he called
20 his assistance the trusted steward
and, as dying request, sent him forth
to 6nd wife for his son in far off
Mesopotamiah This course is not in
teLded TO toenconrage an undue spirit
Of match making nor 60 dianenee with
the dutics and pleasures Of wooing
and winning; but it does cell strongly