Since the infallible and unchangeable laws of God and of Nature have limited the indulgence of love to married persons only, it becomes necessary to inquire into the laws and limitations of marriage itself. What is marriage? and who are entitled to its rights and benefits?
MARRIAGE DEFINED
The proper definition of marriage is the main point at issue between the social system of polygamy and that of monogamy, which it is the object of this treatise to examine and compare. One system defines marriage to be the exclusive union of one man to one woman until separated by death or divorce; the other defines it to be the union of one man to either one woman or more, until separated, in like manner, by death or divorce. It now remains for us to determine which of these definitions is most in harmony with the laws of god and of Nature. And we shall be better able to do this, by considering carefully the beneficent purposes which marriage is designed to subserve.