Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-11
.FICTION'S VIEW OF LOVE
is EAL Sc. SAYS PASTOR
"Trashy and Unreliable" Or. Henry's
Dlctum on Views of Books and
Dramas Given from
Pulpit

Seeking Wife" was the theme which
Rev. J. o. A. Henry discussed last even
Ing at the First Baptist church. In part
he said
God makes much of marriage He
made man for society and not for solitude.
Marriage is the natural and normal state
of man. Next to conversion, nothing so
effects mans life as suitable mar
riage.
'It is sad that so much Of the worlds
instructions on this subject should come
from trashy and unreliable sources. The
conception of marriage set forth In the
modern novel or drama Is fictitious and
false.
'It is evident that good many people
will never marry. There is surplus of
women. This fact creates the necessity
tor every daughter to be trained to self
support. There are brothers and sons
who are caring for dependent mothers
and sisters that may not wed now. There
are men who are morally bankrupt and
should not marry. The libertine has no
right to a pure woman False considera-
lions such as selfshness. money, mis-
taken social pride, unwise parental inter-
ference deter many from marrying. But
every marriageable man should plan TO
marry and seek the best possible wife. az
mistake is fatal, for bad wife is shackels
to the feet, palsey to the hand, burden
to the shoulders, smoke to the eyes, vine
gar to the teeth, thorn in the side and
dagger in the heart. But a good wife IS
heavens best gift to man. The world Is
opulent in beautiful, lovely and magnif-
cent womanhood.
Pray for Guidance
"In winning a wife one should pray for
divine guidance. The numerous wrecks
of home, property, reputation and life 1T
self admonish care and prudence. Matri-
monial blunders have been prolific sources
of social sin, moral evil and spiritual in
trinity. Esau, Ahab, Wesley, Milton.
Euskin and Robertson, poets, preachers
and statesmen. made sad mistakes.
Wicked wives made home vestibule TO
hell. Men should act sanely and not make
matrimony a game Of chance.
1.-THE merely worldly plan excludes Col.
The young man should pray before he Is
motgaged, not for deliverance but for
direction Coquetry and artificiality en-
phasize the need of prayerful care in the
selection of life companion. Fathers
should be equally interested in the mar
riage of their sons. Abraham's solicitude
for his son Isaac in this matter was most
beautiful
do not marry an irreligious woman.
An, infidel man is bad enoughh, but an un-
believing woman is curse and scourge,
Woman owes her emancipation and ex-
altation to Christianity. A scoffing woman
is fit for neither wife nor mother. A good
wife will respect religion and accept
Christ
Again. marry woman not face nor
form, not beauty skin deep, not charms
that are ephemeral, not culture nor style
as SUCH All these will fade and fail in
the crisis of life. Viscissitude will scat i
ter all artificial attractions. You want a
woman, not a wall flower, for a wife.
Remember. the gender does not always
follow sex. There are feminine men and
masculine women. The incompatlbility
of such Is inevitable.
Requirements Named
Select one who is beautiful, loving,
kind, consderate of the feelings of others.
Do not marry a woman who dislikes chill
dren, flowers or her own sex. You want
Q woman of love, taste and truthfulness.
Most wives are good, courageous and
faithful The Jezebel is an exceptional
character
LAS a husband be lover and not a
female fancier. Such gracious and cleo
tive affinity cement marriage. Let the
red line of supreme affection run through
all your experience. Your wife will want
your heart. With this she will never be
poor; without it she will live in penury
and want You demand a pure white
soul; see to it then that at the altar you
lay at her feet its equivalent in an I'M
sullied and uncorrupted manhood
' will betroth thee unto me forever,
saith the Lord. Christ is In the world
seeking a bride. Every true deciple is a
member of his body. Jesus is the souls
bridegroom. He is seeking you. He Of
fers you his pierced hand, his peerless
brow, his bleeding heart. his priceless
patrimony. He presses his suit; he prof
fers his boundless love, viii you take
him for better or for worse, forevermore7
All heaven awaits the tidings of your
espousal"