Year: 1869

Custom tolerates this abominable
social evil, if IL does not approve II.
II cannot do less, when the lax state
of public morality makes divorces
even not only possible, but easy of
accomplishment. Marriage by many
is no longer regarded as divine In
stitution, but simply an ALLAN ce to be
entered into, and dissolved, ut the
caprices offolly, lust, or convenience.


There are few persons, compara-
lively, but that believe in the i'm
mortality of the soul; and that those
who have gone before US to the spirit
land will be recognized, and hold the
same relation to us, when we meet
them there, that they did here
therefore, to such, marriage once
must, to all inten.s and purposes, be
marriage for all eternity. A plu.
rality of wives or husbands, in the
world to come, must excite the same
horror which 1T does I'm all right
minded persons when such state OF
things is contemplated here. In this
light view it, and / cannot divest
the idea from my mind that cantrac-
tion of more than one marriage by
the same person IL no less than a
kind of polygamy. ..... .........


How agonizing and terrible il must
be to devoted and tender wife when
separated from her partener, in the
halcyon days of their welded life,
after waiting many long years in the
spirit land for the dear one left be-
hind, to find perhaps two or three
later wives of her husband sent to
her before his arrival; and when he
at length comes, to have her claim
disputed, or at least receive only a
moiety Of that love which her prior
ity should claim as whole. Aside
from this there are other considera-
tions connected with second mar
riages which are not less repelling.


First marriages are usually con-
tracted when youth, love, and ro-
nance cement the union with a
tenderness and sacredness which no
later periods can approach. The
human heart pours out its best and
and purest oblations upon first
union, and all other connections OF
the kind are In comparison only
ridiculous burlesgues upon the insti'
tuition of marriage. The heart can
never yield but to one the divine
glow which distils the true elixir OF
welded life. When this one is re-
moved, the fountain is dried up in
this world. and no rod welded by a
second love can again make it flow
with its original abundance and
sparkling purity.


How ridiculous, farcial, and iniquit-
Gus then are all marriages save the
first! How abhorant the bare idea
of connection of this kind must be
to all such as are basking in the hap
py fruition Of first union! Tt
think. for instance, at some future
day, that beloved wife or husband
may be removed and others step into
their places at their boards othel
hands to preside; at their fireside,
new faces to smile or frown upor
them the arms that embrace them
and the kisses they receive to be be.
slowed by mercenary and selfish in
terlopers.


When death takes away a beloved
wife or husband, the bereaved, in,
stead of casting their eyes around fol
one to fill the place, should live or
the memory of their loved ones
look upon the affiiction as only tenn
porary; bear the lost one ever in
mind; shape every act as though
their eyes were upon them; and a,
they proceed onward, nearing tn,
goal, their love should be constantly
increasing so as to be fully prepared
for that reunion which Will be fina
and eternal.