The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1860-08-11
A MINISTER'S OPINION ON WEARlN
MOURNING APPAREL.

A MINISTER'S OPINION ON WEARING r
MOURNING APPAREL.
The propriety of adopting sombre apparel
when a near and dear relative or friend dies, r.
is theme upon which much has been said :
and written, The advocates of the custom
have always been the great majority, and =
consequently any thing which may be SAID y y
in opposition to such course, is interesting, y y
if only for the novelty of the argument i
advanced. Recently the Rev DR.. Butler OF
Trinity Church, Washington, addressed his
congregation on the subject, urging that, if
our religion is joyful, this Objectionable
uniform Of woe ought to be discarded. The
Rev gentIemah's remarks are so interesting +,
that we append their substance lie SAID
aOur life is sorrowful enough in our own
sorrows as they pass, without bringing them
and holding them up in the world, and
erecting conspicuous monuments over them
to the lives of others to perpetuate them
after they are dead and buried. 1t is
Christian duty to trouble others as little as
we can with our grefs. We may be sure
the world has enough for its own dicipline,
f And it is from this view object to a custom
| which to my mind is never good, but which
, in the excess to which it is carried, seems to
me to be an absolute wrong to society,
. throwing over it an element of gloom, which
r no persons, and Christians least of all have
: RIGHT to cast into this already two shad-
!, owed light. l fear that | shall offend thoI
f sacred sentiment and feeling of many who
cherish it as Christian ceremony, when
# announce my most decided objection to the
G practice of putting on mourning for the dead
= You will permit me with all respect to the
'c sentiments of Others, to utter my very long
,e and matured convictions upon It, Its evils
d seem to me to be manifold. 1t looks like
ye uniform of organized rebellion against the
j. providence of God 1t sheds gloom over the
at streets, through the churches and In the
S. world of the absence of comfort and conso'
= alton. 1t helps to perpetuate sorrow, when
the Christian duty is to cultivate peace and
i. low Children or Christian friends, die and
of they 90 to heaven and we very properly lay
at them amid fagraut flowers with white lines
10 upon their breast. All around them is tht
y. light of Christian hope and consolation, ano
Ttben we come in dark cloud shedding nigh
e. over the scene. This is not a Christian bu
ct heather custom. The early Christians
.bt forbid cries of agonies, the rendlng OF gar
it. ments, and the black emblems OF despal
ee which the heather practiced and adopted
p and deposited their dead with sorrowin!
he gratitude; for they soToweG not withou
or. hone. Indeed evidence is not wanting t.
Hi prove HAT they oped first the opposlt
de- custom to that of mourning; that they wor
hts white and bright colors, embematical
he their Christian Joy, when the dead wa
not buried out of their 81. ht | have sometime
re. thought whether the habit, which will bs
I'M. the memory Of some of you, of wearln
me white scarfs at funerals, WAS not derived trol
zee this primitive custom. 1t is not, | think
eat Christian sentiment which prompts tn
gloomy habiliment, it converts women, an
Saddest of all, little children into walkr
embems Of despair.
us- Black Why it is the symbol of sin,
). woe. of wrath and of despair, not of the con
ing fort and the gaddened sorrow of the Chrl
tian. 1t is, moreover, too often mere tas
pro. ion. And then to see it elaborately int
eek woven, coouetish in its adjustments, goil
rish TO places of amusement, covering the g
wer and giddy, as it has sort Of fantastic ms
the ouerade appearance, and seems incongruo
ider to the gloom. respect thesentiment viii
y at leads those who are bereaved to put aw
gay colors and wear those which are gooi
-. Ter. But let not the faneied respect for
0li- dead, or fear that one may not seem
more mourn enough, lead us into the most m
tate taken conviction that sorrow is du
ma When it is duty, let grace convert 1t il
lnce peacefuljoy. Let it not lead us into
Will egotsm of obtrudng our sorrow into
Sc Of s.la ond wropS AGAINST Christianity
making it wear livery Of despair, am
a.. wrong to the world by being objects
rat 'r' aloominess, when our present peace sho
WV be perpetual testimony to the high ]
and the sufficient consolotion to Christ
r., faith. AIacki What is itl 1t is
e. sus into which the light cannot come. 1t is
absence of light.
Why should It drape thechildren of il
rsday and of hopea Why should it be used
Sc in the cases of those, the memory of whose
light departure and peaceful rest is sacred j
,yis's | NAV run counter to your feelings and !
and iudices upon this subject. You may sa
corresponds to your own feelings to v
this material but is it that feeling wi
ers of corrAsnouds to the credit of god, and to
new mercies of redeeming love If the Gus
fast is in harmony with just conception,
y on have our green, sweet cemeteries, SO fpl
lit, of iovful reflection, whose embems are al
con- conflict with it, altered. Our graves sh
II, ac' be placed in rugged places, and have
plica- trees but the cypress and the nightshade
,turer monuments but those of black marble.
our religion is joyful, it does seems to
IN :, that this Objectionable uniform OF
ed at "o''O - 'o01 N'0''''
indi