The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-23
For The Cecil Wing.
THE OLD CHURCH.

Being in the village of North East few
days ago, walked through the old church
yard, so populous with the dead, who for
more than century have been gathering
within its silent enclosure. On stone bear
ing the impress of time, is written:
"Hnuc ieych the Body of Joseph, the Son
IF WMiom and Sarah Smith. rho
Dcyed March y. l734."
On reading the inscription, these reflections
presented themselves Who were William
and Sarah Smith! No living persons re.
hc,ni'crs them, nor does any person, per
hals. know aught Of their history-whcrc
they lived. or what their occupation. Thus
we die aud are forgotten: our memories per-
iSl. and our names cannot be pcrpctuatcd
Will all the busy multitude who are now so
intent on the avocations of life; thronging
every thoroughfare of tIadc. he. after the
lapse Of n few years, huShcd in the silence of
the grave. and few wears afterwards, for
gotten! Certainly and surely, one after an
n,hcr, all 80 down to the mansions of the
dead. Tn looking over the monuments here
tlcrtcd sec the names of many persons with
whom | was once familiar, and many others
would | see were there any memorials to de-
Aicna;c the spot that holds their dust"
have o(icn thought Of the case of Admiral
Beaufort, who, whcna youth, fell overheard,
and was conscious that he was drowning
the thought came 20 him of the grief Of his
parents when the news would reach thcm,--
the sensations Of pain ceased, and his feelings
were Of tue most plcasurablc kind. In an
instant all the events of his life passed rapid
~ before him: every occurrence was wildly
fcmcmhcrcd-not in general out line, but in
the minutcst particulars, although his whole
time he was under water did not exceed two
minutes; with the r,suscitation came pain
and regret that his enjoyment had been
disturbed. The doctrine seems plausible
that the human soul being spark Of divine
intelligence, Is IN it's nature all-intclligent
when released from trainmcls Of the body,
hut in conrlcxon with body has to acquire
knowledge slowly through the bodily organs
rf sense. and more or less perfectly as those
organs, and the brain are perfect.
If it he true, that the soul as soon as re-
leased fiom the body will wildly remember
every. the fninutcst transaction of life, what
an incentive to good and worthy actions. If
the deeds of wickcdness done in secret, are
to he remembered with regret forever, who
with this consciousness before him. would do
an rmworthysoct, though it might he pal
try gain at the time. Perhaps am digrcss-
ing.
This old church of st. Mary AIMS Parish,
on the corner store at the southwest corner
thereof hath this inscription:
"l743. RD., w. f., Ii. B., n. H., f. D.
j., Il. H., I. r., l. G. These arc perhaps
the initials Of the pastor and the vestry,
whose names may be found in the records Of
the church, or in the Acts of the Assembly,
as in these carly times there were many laws
for the protection of the church.
There are many monuments to the dead
around me, but the great majority lie TN
known and undistinguishcd.
Does pride ever enter the sanctuary of the
dead, and rear costly monuments to over
shadow the humble poor that lie around; to
enclose the great ones in walls of iron, that
they may not mix with common dust!
Ii that graphic DESCRIPTION of the rising
dead, Pollock Course of Time, this sub.
jcct is alluded to-
"And he that richly hearscd,
With gloomy garniture Of purchased wo.
Embalmcd, in princely sopulchre was laid,
And round by the proud heir, who blushed to thinl
His fathers lordly clay should ever mix
With peasant dust,--saw by his side awake
The clown that long had slumbored in his arms y
1t is very commendable to pay respectful
attention to the repositories Of the dead, tina
ncatncss and order should pcrvade the sane
tuary of the grave, that we may often b.
drawn thithcr to contemplate the solemn
resting place Of man-the end Of human am
hilton r.