Evening star., 1909-05-01

continuation in semi-ethereal form-of the
being of his dreams. There was no pause
for thought in either OF the lovers. The
instant of recognition was the realization
of presence-unquestioning and the most
natural thing in the world that the other
should be there. Delight had sealed from
within the ears of doubt. Unhesitatingly
they ran to each other, and before a Sec
ond had passed were locked tightly IN
each others arms
In the secret belief of the conventional
word-that belief which is the official
teaching of the churches OF an artificial
society, and not merely the world of
Adam and Eve land some othersp-the
ceremony of marriage in itself changes
the entire nature Of the contracting par
ties. Whatever may have been the idlo-
syncrasies Of these individuals such are
forthwith changed. foregone. or other
wise altered to suit that common de-
nominator of human nature while alone
If officially catalogued in the records Of
the just. 1t were as though the recorded
promise OF two love-stricken sufferers.
followed by the formal blessings of the
church in any of its differentiaiions-
of the registrar should change baser
mortals to more angelic counterpart: just
as the philosophers stone" which the
medieval alchemist dreamed of and
sought for, was expected to change baser
metals to gold.
Perhaps il is because this transmutation
Is so complete tnat so many of those mar
riages which the church does sanctify
turn out so differently from the antcipa-
tions of the contractors and blessors:
But Dame Nature has her own church
and her own ritual In her case the
blessing comes before the service: and
the benediction is but the official recog-
ni;ion that two souls with their at
tendant bodies-have found a perfect COM
munion for themselves. Those who be-
lieve in human nature-and many Of them
are seriously minded people. too-realiZe
and are thankful for the goodness Of God.
who showers the possibilities of happi-
ness with no stinting and no uncertain
hand After ALL" they say. what about
Eden?" There was no churchs blessing
there-not even registrar; and YET WI
hold that Adam and Eve were united in
matrimony. Nor were their children or
their children's children made one with
that on these occasions stood between
fornication and marriage? What could 1t
be but the blessing of God. And If God
could make marriage by His blessing in
OF If. indeed. there be only civil con-
tract'-as so many hold today-what
proofs or writings must there be beyond
that mere ''parole" contract which Is
recognized in such matters by the law of
the land.
So. the believers in natural religion and
natural law-thcse who do not hold that
personal license. unchecked and bound
less is an appanage or logic result of
freedom. To these. freedom is In Itself
a state bounded on all SIDES by restrictive
laws-as must ever be. unless anarchy Is
held to be the ultimate and controlling
force And in the end anarchy is the
denial of all cosm:c law-;hat syste-
matized congeries of natural forces work
ing in harmony to a common end.
But law, cosmic or anarchic if there be
such thing. and 1t may be that hell
IL there is one-has its own laws or any
grade between these oppostes, is mat
ter for GOODNESS and reflection. Inter
arma silent leges is a maxim of CO.