The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-01

Are transitory things, no less than JOY,
And though they leave us not the men we WERE
vi tLau IN Leave

1
The orgsnization of our society assists the hours;
rho nties which call for exertion aid in causing
| martial forpetfulness of the dead. Almost every
| American may use the homely words Of Scott's
| Fisherman: alt is weel wi you gentes, that can
sit in the house wi handkerchers at your cen when
Won lose A friend but the likes o. us maun to
work again. if our hearts were beating as hard as
my hammer"
As the grass grows over the grave, and violets
shed their perfume around it, in time, the heart
is healed, though scared. But while unavailing
grief for the dead should not Obstruct the duties Of
life, yet it is proper that their memory should be
cherished, and this festival (if we may so term it,
Of the Catholic Church deserves to be adopted by
the Protestant sects. In their hatred Of the old
ligion, the early reformers batted against all its
customs and externals, forgetting that many Of
those had their origin in the spiritual nature Of
man. The Covenanters carried this feeling tar
that they buried their dead without any religious
ceremony and thus the most solemn of all earthly
acts was allowed TO pass unmproved! The Epis-
copaans were wiser in their generation, and the
burial service Of the Church of England is the
sublimest of all ceremonies. How difficult to re-
nounce prejudices-but the Scotch Presbyterian
has learned at last to offer up words of prayer by
the grave. As yet, though, the organ is an abomi-
nation, and the master pieces of art only painted
| rags" In the churches of Protestant Germany,
however, they have retained all the aids to religious
| contemplation, which are afforded, by
Music and painting, sculpture, rhetoric,
And architectural pomp - a."
To-day the Catholic church devotss to the dead.
This day the aged mother spends with her long lost
| child, and in spirit clasps to her heart the in
l FAINT who for years has moudered in the dust-the
1 old man renews his vows TO his beauteOus mistress,
who passed away ere yet the ardOr of his love had
cooled, or possession disclosed the imperiectons OF
humanity-the son breaking from his companions,
and for the time from the mastery of evil passions,
hears again the sweet voice which, in his innocent
childhood, nightly sent up prayers in his behalf
and perhaps he may carry away with him from
that grave the seed which shall bloom in Heaven.
Wreaths of flowers will decorate the monuments
/ and tears moisten the soil-to the dead they are
unavailing; lis the living who profit by thii
mournful yet soothing ceremony.
/ We close this article, which may be deemed Of
too serious character Tor the columns Of penny
paper, with passage from the most exquisite work
Of the day:
"Thou mourner for the dead! Often dost
thou go sorrowing after thy virtuOus friend
1 into the church-yard, but he is not there, for
l9 Is lseh-d spirlC HoW among the just ll3ue per
| feet In his coffin there only grave clothes
| md decaying body, which, indeed, when living,
was never more than gEfment of earth. Be thou
tranquil, since, in place of a wornout body, thy
lost companion is now clothed with immortality I!
"Nay, nay, do not weep such bitter tears. Look on
the newly made graves, and see on them how the
flowers spring up again more luxuriantly than be-
fore. So ought thy hopes to rise up the strongly
out of sorrow; and not only to spring on high, but
also to blossom there, and rpen those consolatory
fruits which drop down into the soil like mama
l from heaven" Martyria.