Changes

82:3.4 In [[primitive]] times [[marriage]] was the price of [[Social status|social]] standing; the [[possession]] of a [[wife]] was a badge of distinction. The [[savage]] looked upon his wedding day as marking his entrance upon [[responsibility]] and [[manhood]]. In one age, [[marriage]] has been looked upon as a [[social]] [[duty]]; in another, as a [[religious]] [[obligation]]; and in still another, as a [[political]] requirement to provide [[citizens]] for the [[state]].

82:3.4 In [[primitive]] times [[marriage]] was the price of [[Social status|social]] standing; the [[possession]] of a [[wife]] was a badge of distinction. The [[savage]] looked upon his wedding day as marking his entrance upon [[responsibility]] and [[manhood]]. In one age, [[marriage]] has been looked upon as a [[social]] [[duty]]; in another, as a [[religious]] [[obligation]]; and in still another, as a [[political]] requirement to provide [[citizens]] for the [[state]].

82:3.5 Many early [[tribes]] required feats of stealing as a qualification for [[marriage]]; later peoples substituted for such raiding forays, [[athletic]] [[contests]] and [[competitive]] [[games]]. The winners in these contests were awarded the first prize—choice of the season's brides. Among the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headhunting head-hunters] a [[youth]] might not marry until he [[possessed]] at least one head, although such skulls were sometimes purchasable. As the buying of [[wives]] declined, they were won by riddle contests, a [[practice]] that still survives among many [[groups]] of the black man.

82:3.5 Many early [[tribes]] required feats of stealing as a qualification for [[marriage]]; later peoples substituted for such raiding forays, [[athletic]] [[contests]] and [[competitive]] [[games]]. The winners in these contests were awarded the first prize—choice of the season's brides. Among the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headhunting head-hunters] a [[youth]] might not marry until he [[possessed]] at least one head, although such skulls were sometimes purchasable. As the buying of [[wives]] declined, they were won by riddle contests, a [[practice]] that still survives among many [[groups]] of the black man.

82:3.6 With advancing [[civilization]], certain [[tribes]] put the severe [[marriage]] tests of [[male]] [[endurance]] in the hands of the [[women]]; they thus were able to [[favor]] the men of their [[choice]]. These marriage tests [[embraced]] [[skill]] in [[hunting]], fighting, and [[ability]] to provide for a [[family]]. The groom was long required to enter the bride's [[family]] for at least one year, there to live and labor and prove that he was [[worthy]] of the wife he sought.

82:3.6 With advancing [[civilization]], certain [[tribes]] put the severe [[marriage]] tests of [[male]] [[endurance]] in the hands of the [[women]]; they thus were able to [[favor]] the men of their [[choice]]. These marriage tests [[embraced]] [[skill]] in [[hunting]], fighting, and [[ability]] to provide for a [[family]]. The groom was long required to enter the bride's [[family]] for at least one year, there to live and labor and prove that he was [[worthy]] of the wife he sought.

82:3.7 The qualifications of a [[wife]] were the ability to [[perform]] hard [[work]] and to bear [[children]]. She was required to [[execute]] a certain piece of [[agricultural]] work within a given time. And if she had borne a child before marriage, she was all the more valuable; her [[fertility]] was thus [[assured]].

82:3.7 The qualifications of a [[wife]] were the ability to [[perform]] hard [[work]] and to bear [[children]]. She was required to [[execute]] a certain piece of [[agricultural]] work within a given time. And if she had borne a child before marriage, she was all the more valuable; her [[fertility]] was thus [[assured]].

82:3.8 The [[fact]] that [[ancient]] peoples regarded it as a disgrace, or even a [[sin]], not to be married, explains the [[origin]] of child marriages; since one must be married, the earlier the better. It was also a general belief that unmarried persons could not enter spiritland, and this was a further incentive to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_marriages child marriages] even at [[birth]] and sometimes before birth, [[contingent]] upon [[sex]]. The ancients believed that even the dead must be married. The [[original]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchmakers matchmakers] were employed to [[negotiate]] marriages for deceased individuals. One [[parent]] would arrange for these intermediaries to [[effect]] the marriage of a dead son with a dead daughter of another [[family]].

82:3.8 The [[fact]] that [[ancient]] peoples regarded it as a disgrace, or even a [[sin]], not to be married, explains the [[origin]] of child marriages; since one must be married, the earlier the better. It was also a general belief that unmarried persons could not enter spiritland, and this was a further incentive to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_marriages child marriages] even at [[birth]] and sometimes before birth, [[contingent]] upon [[sex]]. The ancients believed that even the dead must be married. The [[original]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchmakers matchmakers] were employed to [[negotiate]] marriages for deceased individuals. One [[parent]] would arrange for these intermediaries to [[effect]] the marriage of a dead son with a dead daughter of another [[family]].

82:3.9 Among later peoples, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty puberty] was the common age of [[marriage]], but this has advanced in direct [[proportion]] to the [[progress]] of [[civilization]]. Early in [[social]] [[evolution]] peculiar and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibate celibate] orders of both men and women arose; they were started and [[maintained]] by [[individuals]] more or less lacking [[normal]] sex urge.

82:3.9 Among later peoples, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty puberty] was the common age of [[marriage]], but this has advanced in direct [[proportion]] to the [[progress]] of [[civilization]]. Early in [[social]] [[evolution]] peculiar and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibate celibate] orders of both men and women arose; they were started and [[maintained]] by [[individuals]] more or less lacking [[normal]] sex urge.

82:3.10 Many [[tribes]] allowed members of the ruling [[group]] to have [[sex]] relations with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride bride] just before she was to be given to her [[husband]]. Each of these men would give the girl a present, and this was the [[origin]] of the custom of giving wedding presents. Among some [[groups]] it was expected that a young woman would earn her [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry dowry], which consisted of the presents received in reward for her [[sex]] [[service]] in the bride's exhibition hall.

82:3.10 Many [[tribes]] allowed members of the ruling [[group]] to have [[sex]] relations with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride bride] just before she was to be given to her [[husband]]. Each of these men would give the girl a present, and this was the [[origin]] of the custom of giving wedding presents. Among some [[groups]] it was expected that a young woman would earn her [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry dowry], which consisted of the presents received in reward for her [[sex]] [[service]] in the bride's exhibition hall.

82:3.11 Some [[tribes]] married the young men to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow widows] and older women and then, when they were subsequently left widowers, would allow them to marry the young girls, thus insuring, as they [[expressed]] it, that both [[parents]] would not be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foolishness fools], as they conceived would be the case if two [[youths]] were allowed to [[mate]]. Other [[tribes]] limited mating to similar age groups. It was the [[limitation]] of marriage to certain age [[groups]] that first gave [[origin]] to [[ideas]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incest incest]. (In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India] there are even now no age restrictions on marriage.)

82:3.11 Some [[tribes]] married the young men to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow widows] and older women and then, when they were subsequently left widowers, would allow them to marry the young girls, thus insuring, as they [[expressed]] it, that both [[parents]] would not be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foolishness fools], as they conceived would be the case if two [[youths]] were allowed to [[mate]]. Other [[tribes]] limited mating to similar age groups. It was the [[limitation]] of marriage to certain age [[groups]] that first gave [[origin]] to [[ideas]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incest incest]. (In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India] there are even now no age restrictions on marriage.)

82:3.12 Under certain [[mores]] widowhood was greatly to be feared, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow widows] being either killed or allowed to commit [[suicide]] on their [[husband]]s' graves, for they were supposed to go over into spiritland with their spouses. The surviving widow was almost invariably blamed for her husband's [[death]]. Some [[tribes]] burned them alive. If a widow continued to live, her life was one of continuous [[mourning]] and unbearable [[social]] restriction since remarriage was generally disapproved.

82:3.12 Under certain [[mores]] widowhood was greatly to be feared, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow widows] being either killed or allowed to commit [[suicide]] on their [[husband]]s' graves, for they were supposed to go over into spiritland with their spouses. The surviving widow was almost invariably blamed for her husband's [[death]]. Some [[tribes]] burned them alive. If a widow continued to live, her life was one of continuous [[mourning]] and unbearable [[social]] restriction since remarriage was generally disapproved.

82:3.13 In olden days many [[practices]] now regarded as immoral were [[encouraged]]. Primitive wives not infrequently took great [[pride]] in their [[husband]]s' affairs with other [[women]]. [[Chastity]] in girls was a great hindrance to marriage; the bearing of a child before marriage greatly increased a girl's desirability as a wife since the man was sure of having a [[fertile]] companion.

82:3.13 In olden days many [[practices]] now regarded as immoral were [[encouraged]]. Primitive wives not infrequently took great [[pride]] in their [[husband]]s' affairs with other [[women]]. [[Chastity]] in girls was a great hindrance to marriage; the bearing of a child before marriage greatly increased a girl's desirability as a wife since the man was sure of having a [[fertile]] companion.