The monument is a symbol of death, but not a morbid or depressing one, rather a powerful symbol representing the Douglas religious beliefs, in redemption and resurrection. The universal experience of encountering death has provided a powerful image of dramatic change adopted by many cultures as a symbol of many lesser changes befalling people during their lives. In this sense death is a powerful natural symbol, so that when a culture wishes to express the belief that some major change is coming about in a person s life and identity this image of death is found to lie close at hand. Like the changes that occur when a child becomes an adult, the monument is a symbol of the crossing from one boundary, one life to another after Death. Mount Hope Cemetery and the monuments within are reminders, to those who visit, of mortality.
Death comes for all, so it is best to be prepared.
Passing by the Douglas monument, and reading the hymn, may prepare some to make the passage from one life to the next. Western view of the Douglas family plot. Eastern view of the Douglas family plot, the two larger headstones are those of William Bradley Douglas and Charlotte Forris Douglas. North view of the Cross, it s on this side that the Latin inscription begins. Bibliography Church, F. Forrester and Mulry.