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The Adventist Home
do with his daughters, replied, “I intend to apprentice them to their
excellent mother, that they may learn the art of improving time, and
be fitted to become wives and mothers, heads of families, and useful
members of society.
The Prospective Husband Should Be Thrifty and Industri-
ous—In early times custom required the bridegroom, before the rat-
ification of a marriage engagement, to pay a sum of money or its
equivalent in other property, according to his circumstances, to the
father of his wife. This was regarded as a safeguard to the marriage
relation. Fathers did not think it safe to trust the happiness of their
daughters to men who had not made provision for the support of a
family. If they had not sufficient thrift and energy to manage business
and acquire cattle or lands, it was feared that their life would prove
worthless. But provision was made to test those who had nothing to
pay for a wife. They were permitted to labor for the father whose
daughter they loved, the length of time being regulated by the value of
the dowry required. When the suitor was faithful in his services, and
proved in other respects worthy, he obtained the daughter as his wife;
and generally the dowry which the father had received was given her
at her marriage....
The ancient custom, though sometimes abused, as by Laban, was
productive of good results. When the suitor was required to render
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service to secure his bride, a hasty marriage was prevented, and there
was opportunity to test the depth of his affections, as well as his ability
to provide for a family. In our time many evils result from pursuing an
opposite course
No man is excusable for being without financial ability. Of many
a man it may be said, He is kind, amiable, generous, a good man, a
Christian; but he is not qualified to manage his own business. As far as
the outlay of means is concerned, he is a mere child. He has not been
brought up by his parents to understand and to practice the principles
of self-support
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11
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 74
.
12
Patriarchs and Prophets, 188, 189
.
13
Letter 123, 1900
.