Date Squares, Aka Matrimony Cake

Boil together dates, sugar, water and lemon juice. Mix together butter, oats, flour, sugar and soda to form a crumb mixture. Put 3/4 of the crumb mixture in the bottom of an 11 by 7 inch pan. Spread the date mixture over, then the rest of the crumb mixture as topping. Pat down. Bake at 300 deg. F. for 45 minutes. Note: As an alternative, you can replace the date mixture with mincemeat, which we have found to be less sweet and has a better flavor.