The Irish standard., 1913-02-01
A PROTESTANT
EDITORS VIEW
Attending the Nuptial Ceremony
For the First Time in
His Career
He is Moved to Write in Praise
of Its Dignity and Its
Reverence.
Pleased He Availed Himself Of
the Opportunity and Draws
A Contrast.

| For ages there has been considerable
said and written, both in jest and in
all sincerity, about 'n.arriage IL fall
urc." and yet. with all that has bee,
said and done along this line, mar
rage, in too many instances. We arc
sorry to say, still continues to be "a
failure, and perhaps always will be
until some different forms and laws
are adopted il this country making
| the marriage VOW more sacred and
worthy OF reverence. says the editor
of the Deshler, Ohio. Flag.
A few weeks ago we had tho oppor-
tunity and tho pleasure of attending
! our first Catholic wedding held in the
! Catholic church in this city, and we
are glad that we awaited oursclf Of
this opportunity, as 1t has furnished us
With the thought for this article and
II what we have to say results il one
good turn we will be doubly glad that
| we witnessed this ceremony.
Upon entering the church, filled with
friends OF the contracting parties. we
noticed that there was an air OF sac
redness pervading every nook and cor
:1er Of the sanctuary, something that
J! We seldon1. observe at, a.. Protestant
II wedding. = s1hen@ the s,ritinl -roupfe enc
tered and took their places at the
altar to the sweet strains from the
choir orchestra, the scene was sub.
j jcct for an artist, and one that will
j require years to fade from the men,
ory, of those who were present.
While the entire ceremony was
Greek to u.s." The Mass and chants
all being given in Latin. yet we real
lied that there was enough in it Ia
impress the sacrcdness of the cove
: nant, to make 1t an obligation to be
observed through life and we said to
| ourself mo wonder there are so few
divorces among the Catholics-these
people realize the solemn vows they
are taking
Then We drew a. contrast between
the scene before us and the way We
1'rotestants get married.
After a courtsllp OF day, a week,
I or perhaps OF only . few months
duration, VIC rush to a. minister, n
mayor or justice of the l;eacc and
flip. presto. change! Another man
and wife have been ground out to
travel lifc's rugged pain in almost the
twinklinE of an eye, giving little, If
any, thought to the obligation they
were entering into, while this Catholic
marriage required about an hour or
> more
Quite IL difference.
Something to- it. eli
There must he something to such
ceremonies that will cause men and
women to dwell happily together "un-
til death do us part
There is another feature about ~
Catholic marriage that should not be
overlooked. The ndmonition. "What
WA has Jo'IlCU lOScibeT, let no man
put asunder," is a command that is
highly rcvcrcnced by their faith.
: We cannot call TO mind now that
we ever knew OF case OF free love-
. among the Catholics, and we have
: covered considerable territory during
our existence.
While we sat there in the church
. watching, to us. the very impressive
ceremony the question came to us.
: "If this ceremony will cause men and
= women to live together until parted
by death; If the Catholic faith will
cause man and wife to be honest and
true to each other, then, in the name
d OF God, what is wrong viii, our Prot
$ estant religion, for 1--WE regret to say)
S the. divorce and free love evils are
It increasing at an alarming rate among
: the people Of the Protestant faith"
n We arc glad to present these
q thoughts 10 our readers. especially
h those Of the Protestant belief, and ask
r, them wherein are we wrong? Why
3 does not our religion bind men and
f women together with that same de.
d voutness the Catholic faith does?
d Is IT because our marriage VOWS arc
700 meaningless: