A bit behind schedule, here I am posting the next section of the
19th-century discipline, in three parts because of its being one
of the longest, using the 1806 Philadelphia YM for the basic text
and adding material from other disciplines between dashed lines.
_________________________________________________________________

                            MARRIAGES

        IT is advised, that all young or unmarried people in
membership with us, previously to their making any procedure in
order to marriage, do seriously and humbly wait upon the Lord for
his counsel and direction in this important concern; and when
favoured with satisfactory clearness therein, they should early
acquaint their parents or guardians with their intentions, and
wait for their consent; thus preservation from the dangerous bias
of forward, brittle, and uncertain affections, would be
experienced to the real benefit of the parties, and the comfort
of their friends.  And it is earnestly recommended to Friends,
that they tenderly and carefully watch over the youth, and extend
seasonable caution and admonition, as occasions may require.

   --------------------------------------------------------------
   The above is preceded, in the 1881 Orthodox discipline, by
   the following two paragraphs:
      "Unity in religious belief is essential to the full
   enjoyment of the blessings of a married life, and to that
   unrestrained confidence and sympathy between parents and their
   children, which is so important for their growth and
   settlement in the Truth.  We believe also that when the Head
   of the Church led our forefathers into an organization for
   their mutual help and religious fellowship, He gave them to
   see that this sympathy between husband and wife in religious
   belief and practice is highly important to a body designed to
   uphold not only doctrines more spiritual than those generally
   held in the religious world, but also the life which those
   doctrines call for,--a life of faithful obedience, in which
   alone a belief of the doctrines themselves can be livingly
   retained and their further unfoldings received.
      "He who is ready to supply all our needs and enable us to
   fulfil his purposes, whose watchful eye is ever upon his
   Church and people, looks with tender regard upon all that
   relates to the marriage union.  He turns the hearts of parents
   to their children to watch over their associations from early
   life.  Those who will listen to his voice, He warns against
   forming unsuitable intimacies.  He gives the encouraging feel-
   ing of his approval where the affections are being drawn as He
   would have them to be, and withholds it where his gracious
   designs would be frustrated by the connection; and, where He
   sees meet, He prepares hearts to be joined in religious
   fellowship before they enter upon a union in marriage.--1881."
   --------------------------------------------------------------

        Agreed that all single persons, being about to marry at a
distance from home, do take care to procure certificates from the
monthly meeting they belong to, of their right of membership, and
clearness from any other person in respect to marriage, and also
that they obtain the mind of their parents or guardians therein;
and that none be permitted to join themselves in marriage until
such certificates, and the consent of their parents or guardians
thereto, be also signified in person, or by writing, where it is
practicable, or may be reasonably obtained.

        And no monthly meeting ought to permit any marriages to
be proposed in the said meeting, sooner than a year after the
death of husband or wife.

        It is the sense of this meeting, that if any member do
join in marriage with such as are not in membership with us, or
in any other way than with the consent and approbation of the
monthly meeting, they should be dealt with agreeably to our dis-
cipline, and, if not brought to a sense of their error, disowned.

   --------------------------------------------------------------
   The 1881 Philadelphia Orthodox discipline adds:
      "The too ready acceptance of papers of acknowledgment from
   such persons who have accomplished their marriages out of the
   order of Society, being of injurious consequence, and a cause
   of much concern and exercise to this meeting, it is earnestly
   recommended to Monthly Meetings, that they be careful speedily
   to proceed to put the rules of our Discipline in practice
   against such offenders: and when papers of acknowledgment and
   condemnation are offered, such meetings should be well assured
   that they proceed from a true ground of sincerity and
   conviction in the party, manifested by a consistency in life
   and conversation.--1762.
      "When any of our members have married those not of our
   religious profession and are brought to feel the value of
   association in a religious society who practically believe in
   immediate Divine guidance both in individual life and in the
   affairs of the Church, and are so convinced of and attached to
   the doctrines and testimonies to which faithful Friends have
   thereby been led as to be made willing to bear their part in
   upholding them; such may then be retained in or restored to
   membership by offering a suitable acknowledgment to the Month-
   ly Meeting.  And when papers of acknowledgment to this end are
   offered, in consideration of the sacredness of the marriage
   covenant, and from a tender regard for the right feelings of
   the parties, such papers should not be required to express
   express regret for the marriage connection itself, personally
   considered.--1881."

   (A similar concern to that expressed in the last sentence of
   the above is also found in the 1810 New York discipline, as
   follows:  "...no discouragement should be given by the
   requisition of any expressions in an acknowledgment, which
   would not accord with a tender regard for the preservation of
   harmony, so precious and necessary to be maintained between
   husband and wife.")
   --------------------------------------------------------------

        On serious consideration concerning marriages, this
meeting being tender in that respect, advises, that no misdemean-
or be treasured up, against a person until the time of presenting
marriage, and then started, thought perhaps long before done, and
known to those who so object to it at that time, which is a wrong
thing, and should be checked and discouraged in all meetings.

        It is recommended to monthly meetings, that according to
the ancient decent practice amongst Friends, they take care that
such men and women Friends who make suit or proposals or marriage
one to the other, do not dwell in the same house, from the time
that they begin to be so concerned, until the marriage is
accomplished.

        Advised, that marriages be not accomplished in or
immediately after any of our monthly meetings, or other meetings
of business, or on first days.  And it is desired that, on these
occasions, Friends in affluent circumstances, particularly, may
be careful to set a becoming and encouraging example of
moderation; and that all may avoid unnecessarily expensive
entertainments and large companies, and especially guard against
inviting such as guests, who are unlikely to conform to the order
of our religious society.

        Let such of our members be admonished, who keep company,
in order for marriage, with persons not of our society; or with
any bound servants or apprentices, without the leave of their
masters or mistresses; or who are either present themselves, or
consent to their children being present at marriages of those not
in membership, which are accomplished by the assistance of a
priest.  And where any are present at the marriage of a member,
accomplished either by the official interference of a priest, or
in any other way out of our comely order, they are to be dealt
with, and where they cannot be brought to a sense of their error,
let them be testified against.

   --------------------------------------------------------------
   The 1881 Philadelphia Orthodox discipline amplifies:
      "Marriage being an ordinance of God, He alone can rightly
   join man and woman therein; neither priest nor magistrate is
   requisite to its accomplishment; and as we shall not find in
   all the Scripture that the priest had any part therein
   further than as a witness among others that were present, we
   cannot countenance any in the exercise of a function which is
   no part of the office of a Gospel minister.--1881"
   --------------------------------------------------------------

     The Marriages section continues in "The Old Discipline- 18B"

Licia Kuenning
Friends of Truth/Glenside Friends Meeting/Quaker Heritage Press