Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18
MATRIMONIAL QUERIES
MRS. LEWIS WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE CATECHIsM.
Special Cablegram to The Evening Star.

Special Cablegram to The Evening Star.
LONDON, March 1S.-Mrs. Lewis, the
Blackburn temperance advocate, who Off
ciated with the minister at a local wedding
recently, would like to institute 'matri-
monial catechism."
Il would not undertake to marry any one
else without asking many more questions
than ministers usually put to bride and
bridegroom" she said last week. 81 don's
mean to suggest that clergymen do not ask
all and more than the particulars they are
compelled to ask for by law. I hold such
decided views, however, as to the sacred
nature of the matrimonial tie and the re-
sponsibility resting with any one who as
sists in uniting young people that 1 would
not dare to act again unless 1 were con-
WINGED the bride and bridegroom were hap
PLY mated. l strongly believe that people
should not be allowed to marry unless their
physical and moral condition is good, and
their social position not matter of uncer-
tainty. Two notices which hang on the walls
OF Lees Hall, where my temperance meetings
are held, will explain my position. One
runs: Young men, choose healthy and in
Young women, choose healthy and good
prtncipled young men, with clean records,
for your husbands
'But what are the questions you would
put to brides and bridegrooms that minis
tiers do not?" asked your correspondent.
First, should ask their ages" replied
Mrs. Lewis, because I object strenuously
to early marriages. I think twenty-four or
twenty-five quite early enough, however well
to do socially the couple may be, for girl
to assume the responsibilities of house and
motherhood. Next / should ask: Are you
both teetotalersr I should not marry them
unless they were.
ut may be thought I am fanatical on
this point, but if / were young man II
should be afraid to marry girl who took
Intoxicating drinks ever so moderately.
There are times in a woman's life when she
Is strongly tempted to run to stimulants,
and she may go to increase the number of
drunken women and girls whom we see in
creasingly around US. A third question for
the husband would be: Are you prepared
to keep wife? Have you horne furnished
and paid. for? Work people, like beavers.
will say to me, We are both working, and
can pay as we go on But I have to point out
to them that probably before year is out
there will be another mouth to feed. and
that II the man is wise he will not allow his
wife to work in the mill for some time be-
fore the baby's birth, or until the baby's
nursing days are finished afterward.
Fourth 1 should want to know whether
there was any transmitted disease in the
family Of either of TIE parties. It may
seem hard on young people, but where in
ease exists In the family, think 1t sin
that little children should be brought into
the world whose lives cannot be worth liv-
ing Nobody could go through such ex-
perience as has been mine in connection
with temperance work without coming
across numberless cases of couples who
ought never to have married, both for their
own sakes and sake of the race. My pee-
pie at the mission she concluded. "are
delighted to know that I may be able to
marry them, and have suggested presenting
me with minister's gown; but have told
them that Is all nonsense feel my re-
sponsibility too much to contemplate MAX
ing practice Of performing marriage cere-
monies. Let me say here that those ac-
counts which represent the service at Park
Road Church as performed, more or less, in
joking spirit do me and everybody else
grave injustice. The marriage was solem-
nized most reverently on everybody's PAL
and personally I was deeply impressed
with the gravity of the task / was priv
LEGGED to undertake.