Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-10-08

question of the purity and sacredness of
the marriage relation.
There is no doubt that this should be
true. but unfortunately, in regard TO the
starting point in matrimony. the INDEX
poiuting unefringly 10 future veal or
NOE. the American people are as whole
astonishlpgly Indifferent. The glamour
of romance obscures a wise thoughtful-
ness for the future. Marriages are con
summated which every consideration for
the welfare of the contracting parties and
of future generations should cause the
state TO condemn and prohibit;
The pastor of an Episcopal church IN
Cleveland. in an interview upon the sub
ject. said:
Many Are Too Tboughtless.
'.The great trouble is the preponderance
of hasty marriages: People exercise so
little judgment. They embrace matri-
mOny wit, the unthinking spirit of q
holiday outing, forgetting the stern re-
sponsbilities that lie behind it. And the
general mind looks on with passive en-
couragement. All the world loves "a low
err is accepted too literally. One throws
about eourtship and marriage halo OF
romance that is superficial and ileeting.
When the sterner realities come the
dream is too quickly shattered: mind and
will have not been trained to act as
balance wheel for the heart"
The safeguarding of the family reIa-
lions, which Americans are taught to be-
lieve by the daily press is a cardinal prin-
ciple OF our national life, consists to
degree in a consistent effort to compel
Hnhappily married people to continue liY-
ing in that relation though every consid-
Grafton and desire for right living impels
them to separate. Verify, the safe
guarding" comes too late. We should
guard this sacred institution at its portals;
the throne is a power unto itself.
The purity and sacredness of the mar
rage relation can not best be subSeryed
by fighting divorce. Purity and sacred
ness is something real, something holy,
which spreads like incense through the
atmosphere Of the home where it exists,
and divorce can have no place there.
Minister'S Words Not All.
The binding force which holds man and
woman until death do them part" is the
holy spiritual love which they have one
for the other, the spirit of self-sacrihce,
the desire to live for each other and hap
PLY share all their mutual cares. response
bilties and blessings. What is the cere-
mony without this foundation? Those
who truly love care far more for the OPP
portunity TO minister to each others hap
piness and for the blessings of compan-
ionship than the character or form of the
agency which confers that privilege.
Their bondage gives all the joys of free
dom, all the delights of a glorified affec
ton. and is a Christening rod whose touch
is light as angels wings.
May we not have an awakening, n
quickening spirit, on this great subject;
Every minister of the gospel may become
greater power, an accessory to Il noble
fact, by using his influence in the direc-
ton Of encouraging and abetting only the
marriages which give promise of finding
continued favor in Gods sight, the unions
which typify conjunction Of spiritual
forces, the relations which will honor for
all time the divine institution
Let us place marriage on a higher pc
destal, that it may reach to Ioftier heights
and purer atmosphere. Make marriage
moro difficult that it may be lasting. The
Open Door" TO matrimony is Il stand
ing invitation for all 10 enter, regardless
Of qualifications, fitness, motives or train
ing. We should close and lock this en-
trance way to new life, but keys may
be forged by mutual self-denial. sympathy
and unselfsh love, which will prove an
Open Sesame to the region of perpetual
matrimonial bliss.-Madame