| Show MIXED MARRIAGES THE experience of ages has demonstrated a fact that ought not to be ignored because it affects the happiness of individuals and the structure of society it is that marriages of men and women who are not of the same religious faith lack an essential element of true conjugal union without that union marriage falls below the proper standard it does not come up to the divine idea expressed in the beginning they twain shall be one flesh that perfect blend blending hil 9 of souls which brings a of matrimonial joy cannot be attained when the parties are divided in religion for religion is of the soul and dominates it when it gains the throne and is a strong rival if not a master 0 of the affections A house abuse divided against itself cannot stand before wedlock a pair of lovers may be very tolerant of each others beliefs and each be willing to lo leave atie other to the enjoyment of individual religious preferences when the of growing passion passes and the realities of family life arise this mutual foroe arance usually lades fades and the stronger minded ot tae twain prevails eliher winning the other over to co his bis or her opinions or making it decidedly decided lj unpleasant lor for both how often that which the wedded pair agreed to differ on I 1 becomes a perpetual bone ol of contention te and a root of continual bitterness this estrangement affects the offspring of the ill assorted marriage it is bound to do so in the very nature of things and very olten often the fruits ot of the union which should make stronger the bonds of wedlock become the very means of further division for tt if the husband retains his bis early faith he be naturally desires his bis children to te be brought up to walk ia a his way while the wife nas equal desires that her children shall bu be taught in the tenets she believes to be divine by this means society is uti unfavorably favorably affected it is founded on the family that which affects effects the family there tore lore affects society inharmonious jamily relations mean discord in society I 1 and the consequence of these elements of division operating in the nation are of 0 lac far reacting extension and of greater importance than are generally sa supposed posed aney do not ap pearon pear on the surface they work in the but crop out iu in the relations of mankind and the primary impulses that press on to strife nd war nave have their or origin orgin gin often in disordered family relations relations the divine author of the mosaic code who revealed himself in still earlier times to the patriarchs issued very positive baj injunctions auctions against mixed marriages all those of early days will be found on investigation to have been based upon natural laws ISM and human necessities and to have relation to the greatest possible bellare ot the people to whom they were given the law to israel against mixed marriages was of the utmost importance and related to eternal consequences as well LB is earthly interests though the latter were made comparatively more conspicuous because connected with a law of carnal commandments when he who fulfilled that law came with higher principles and showed by his life and precepts the spirit and intent of the law the full fall significance of the prohibition of mixed marriages was brought to light his apostles ePla explained ined the folly of saints being joked yoked together with unbelievers un believers and ana the tae great wrong wron of it in view of the truth that the man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the lord I 1 Marria gein the true christian sense as a divine institution solemnized as divinely ordained like the wedding weddin 9 in the garden of eden between immortals is an eternal covenant and rela tion ship herein is the overwhelming and all important reason why it should be amnion a union of souls adapted in all respects for each other taut they may no longer be twain in any respect the catholic church has taken very positive and from its standpoint con fit ground on this question from which it kal has not receded the ollow ing irom from the Hat fiolic pertinent to this thib subject that pen persons ians joined i together agether 11 in the b bonds n 49 b of I 1 md matrimony in rosy my b be a rall really e y h happy it is necessary cd I 1 osary tha there bea be a ba emoly AV I 1 of lb their aspirations niu fiust at abad t the same goal md add to tats a ira lAta t al 11 ing and a anz hemd to b bear each ot erl f bu burben 0 or they e are tharel atrayel D n cow company an to their ir truo true home above an and t the e way t that t leads thither is bathan both long and rough but bat this essential element of conjugal happiness is wanting in mixed marriages no 0 matter how great may be the ei or how ardent the love which the non catholic bisband and the catholic lic wife may cherish toward each other yet the wife can not but le feel that her most sacred convictions ant ana the purest and most pious aspirations ic ons of her soul are if not despised at least misunderstood by the companion widm wh dm phe she loves joyes at most she can tam roi vat fc nt that cold respect which ong one person professes aa forthe 0 pinions opinions of anothny whom he e believes t to 0 be in er errors the church churchel rl rightly I 1 atly 1 ibn sider as ab belonging to her an the children oora ot a catholic mother er and on this head her dread 1 ot I mixed marriages Is we well I 1 grounded for olten often indeed the non catholic father snatches all of them or at least the sons bons from her told fold that they like himself may be nurtured in heresy beresy but even though he should permit that all the children should be reared in the true faith even though ough he be should endeavor to be disinterested te still the influence ot his bis example on the young winds minds of his bis offspring is an evil which should not be underestimated for the little heart of the child has but one tender feeling of respectful respect fu as ove which embraces both father ami mother it if then he be see fattier father and mother separate on sunday morning to be present at churches inimical in faith fait and doctrine will he be not be tempted to believe that both are equally good that it is but a mere formality to belong to either andia and jf he inquire why it is that his lather abes to one church find and his bia mother to the other it be comes then the sorrowful duty of the mother to reveal the sad secret and to inform him that it if jae he would enter into eternal life he be must not follow his bis father how hew keen the anguish how aff luish dee deep p the sorrow of the cli child who loves fate his father er to think that ta the dear parent is walking in the valley of the shadow of death and how great in consequence is the danger tor for the child truly then our holy mother the church has shown herself both tender and aad prudent leving and solicitous in prohibiting marriages of this kind the happiness of her children both temporal and spiritual is the most ardent wish of her heart and her prohibitory law to is the means which she has employed to guard them against great dangers these reasons become of tar far greater moment and significance to in the light of the religion of et the latter day saints it has opened up to its adherents the glories of eternal life and made plain the ibe bearing of the present upon the future the contemplation of av an everlasting dominion in which the family is toe me kingdom ever increasing in numbers powers riches capabilities joys and glories unutterable is inspiring in the highest degree and it im bues the institution of 0 marr age with a meaning and purport that dieli doe not up ap I 1 pear par w without t hout this v view qt of it seen in ahil this light it the importance of a union that will endure not only the trials of life but the shock of death and the ordeal of the grave becomes strikingly and awfully apparent on the other hand band the thought of a marriage that terminates with this brief unsatisfactory mortal mertal existence having busing no bond but a civil contract find and no promise reaching within the veil and of a final separation of husband and wife parents and children when the contract expires and the I 1 earthly life ends is appalling to the mind that has any glimmering of light or fluttering flattering of faith or yearning ol 01 of ho hope e in reference to an eternal sphere the the lessons are almost innumerable that mixed marriages are productive of unhappiness in this life life to say nothing of that which is to come AS arule arcule they have brought sorrow I 1 regret and a ruined life to women reared among the saints very rare indeed are its exceptions unless the husband has come to see the truth in the same light as the wife and his has embraced her faith as well as her when whan objectors therefore intimate that advice against mixed marriages a springs rings from intolerance they speak either from improper motives or a I 1 I 1 lack ack of understanding such advice is fou founded poled in reason and wisdom and Is fraught with blessing and good intent both to the individuals addressed and to the community it is sound and solid counsel to any rel religious gions society and as we have show nIt it is of greater moment yo to the gilt L latter atte day dat saints than an to any an loth er people it comes direct from the lord of hosts as well as the echoes of the divine word in past ages A the yme to these ideas into the minds of our youth is in the years when thought begins to ass assume nine its 8 sway our boys and girls should learn this lesson before they are old enough to form those attachments which are 1 likely ikey to be permanent from childhood h 00 the they should know the path that lea leads 8 to the lives eternal and be taught to shun that which goes down to the gloom and end of death when passion Is paramount and cupida cupids wings shut out the light of at reason and iland religion it isa difficult task to In interpose terpos asp sense and aiple be between hearts baarts that begin to throb far each v others the schooling should be gl riven fea fai tape humeland Um eland land on parents this duty devolves mixed mixed marriages are an an evil let fiet the tact fact be comprehended br by fathers latners and mothers in all its bearing and consequences bences and it if they have true ae regard fox their offspring the be af pf 11 ir anja ana glory ry it w will ill he be made plait ta the rising 11 audit gatner at aaion ion in due season and thus much sorrow will be saved to families and to society and one element of human discord will soon be banished from zion |
