Litchfield enquirer., 1844-02-01
Ftbm de Nssc Kork EUangeIist.
MOTIRNTNC APPAREL.

than the positive insitutionsof religion, enforced
by the direct command and example of off bless
| I'd Lord and Savior: There are those, however,
who regard it as fair question for discussion,
and its influence desirable. inexpressing opinions
upon this subject, the writer aware of the tender
ness of mind and keen sensibility of the afflicted,
would avoid rudeness. He would nevertheless
meet the question with Christian frankness assured
that all classes Of persons will perceive its fitness
| The following extract from the Encyclopedia
of Religious Knowledge, shows the habits Of diff
ferent nations and their reasons of adopting vari-
Gus colored dresses for mourning.
60 In Europe the ordinary color for mourning is
black in China it Is white in Turkey blue or vi
| olet in Egypt yellow in Ethiopia brown. Each
people pretend to have their reasons for the partc
ular color of their mourning White is supposed
to devote purity yellow that death is the end of
human hopes, as leaves when they fall, and fow-
ers when they fade, become yellow; brown denotes
the EARTH whittier the dead return black, the pri
walton of life, being the privaton of light blue
expresses the happiness which is hoped the de-
ceased enjoy !; and purple OF violet sorrow on the
one side and hope on the other, as being mixture
of black and blue" 81 The propriety of follow
ing the customs prevalent on this point, has been
Of late very extensively called in question by Chris
| tians in this country. Many individuals and reli-
gious bodies have objected against it. 1st, That
| it is useless ceremony 2nd, That it involves
That the hustle of preparing It interferes with the
| moral and religious purposes Of affection"
In this last extract the points most obviously in
volved are stated. Although the philosophy of
this species of mourning is not the same in all
countries, the extent and antiquity of wearing
mourning apparel is regarded as high evidence Of
its propriety.
This argument is specious where Christian prin-
cple is to be made the test of action is neeessa
rly called to guide our sympathetic nature, not
to be governed by it. Reason refuses to be govern
ed in this manner and holds herself bound to weigh
the united practice and decisions of the world.
1t is remarkable that in the Bible so little mem
| ton is made of mourning apparel. Sackcloth
was sometimes used, but no case is recollected of
its use at the death of the pous or others, from
| tural and ordinary causes It was used in view
| ofgeat public calamities, and of public and ind-
lent DEATH At the death Of Abner, David said,
| &c grid you with sackcloth and mourn for Abner."
He lamented and said, " died Abner fool deth'
Q Sam. iii. 49, Jacob rent his clothes and put on
| sackcloth when he supposed that Joseph was de-
| voured by wild beasts. Joseph mourned seven
days for Jacob, but nothing is said of sackcloth
| or of any mourning apparel.
Sackcloth was made Of coarse goats hair, and
probably would not be regarded now as desirable
| for mourning purposes. There is a beautiful ex-
ample of mourning and Of Submission to the divine
will in David-see 2 Samuel xii. 1912. Such
faith and submission after the child was dead, ask
ed no sackcloth or other mourning apparel
To the heather who know not this resurrec-
ton, who live without God and without hope it is
not unphilosophical in them to seek to keep alive
their memory of deceased friends BY excessive and
painful lamentations, and BY mourning apparel.
But a 10 rcgsatird by many as quite important TO
Christians aswell as others, that mourning dress
should be adopted because it tends it is said, to
mind the afflicted frequently of the dead, and for
the time being calls the attention of the observer
to the position and circumstances of the mourner.
To this it may be replied that whatever supposed
advantage may arise from sign Of affection pre-
scented to the community, so far as sympahyis con-
cerned, it must come principally from friends 9th
wise acquainted with the fact. As to the other
advantage, it would seem that if deceased friends
have not SO strong hold upon our memory and
affections as to secure attention-such remembran-
ces will not produce the desired effect. To sup
pose, however, that we in fault for not having
our deceased friends continuously before the mind
amid all the cares and duties of life, and for not
brooding constantly over our Affections, is an err
ror. Ifthey 8" have through faith and patience
inherited the promises" their memory and charac-
ter will be indelibly impressed upon our minds,
precious and salutary. If mourning apparel is adj
there should be discrimination evidently, mas
much it tends to evil to manifest respect for the
wicked dead. Itdebases the public and moral sense,
and destroys all right estimate Of character. 1t
tends to hypocrisy, for who can. in truth. respect
the character of the wicked. Should discrimina-
tons Of character be required, It 10 no doubtful
problem whether the custom would be discontinued.
Nature will true to herself. pay her tribute of af
lection to deceased friends, whatever may have
been their character, but not necessarily in her
apparel. If it is used ever as sign of woe, it
should manifestly not be of the pious, who, at
death, comes in possession of" an eternal weight
ofglory." az
II the custom under consideration is founded in
nature, there should be no monopoly in it. The
poor should have the means to mourn equally with
the rich. Benevolence would require the rich
to supply the poor with apparel equally effective
with their own.
We are all stewards Of the Lord. The rich
have no right to lavish money upon their persons
because they have much entrusted to them. Es-
pecially is it criminal for the rich and influential
to create or extend expensive fashions, which the
poor in the full fow oil afflicted nature may regard
as imperative. How often is the last dollar spent
and debt contracted for mourning apparel. Debts
of this class are regarded particularly sacred
as if the honor Of the deceased was wound up in
the contract. Thus the mourner 10 often greatly
pressed to meet this species Of indebtedness, and
sometimes negects previous obligations for the es-
sentials Of living, rather than fail in no delicate
matter. So well is this understood, that persons
in affection can obtain credit for mourning dresses,
who would be refused credit in any other sup
possible case. A custom which trenches 60 close
w upon the integrity Of its subjects under pressing
circumstances, might be expected to overawe the
mass of society, and leave but little independence
of action in individuals All customs which legit-
imaely move society to the violation OF the reason
to crafty either superstition, or sensl
bity at the expense of the obvious dictates OF jus
tice and benevolence, should be resisted.
Death often comes suddenly, and sometimes in
70 families long accustomed to health. They have