Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-10-03
ADDR ESS
DELIVERED az THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW
CEMETERY, IN STOWE,
BY REV. j. T. FORD.

"hion Oo'nos oo"n ifoin tne Nest, only
few rods from where we now stand, a
boy was drowned. It was the first death
in the settlement. They buried him on
youder bank now covered with monuments,
and his father gave the spot to the town
/ for burial place. From that time to this,
the people have been accustomed to come
from the hill sides and the valleys bring
ing the remains Of their dearest friends,
there to lay them down for their last
sleep.
In that ground there is no more room
for the dead; and we are called together
here to-day to dedicate, with solemn re-
ligions services, a new cemetery.
rejoice in the generous provision made
here for the wants even of the coming
generations. With this extended area,
with these reserved spaces for avenues and
walks, with these ample family lots, there
will be no need of that crowding of cof-
fms below aud of monuments above. which
we find in some of the grave yards of the
past, There viii DC rooM for rural dec.
oration 50 that instead of being like
some burial places, ehcerlcss and unat-
tractiyc, it may yet become the most beau
tiful spot within the circuit of these hills
hail this dedication day as the begin
uing Of better days The character of Il
y .ople for refinement, and also for religion,
is ndi ,4tcd by their Treatment Of the dead.
There is doubtless something in our ma
ture that leads US to desire an honoLabic
burial, an intermeut among our kindred,
and in the midst of pleasant scenes; and
this desire is respected by the surviving
: frioDds of the dead But with increasing
: refinement this tendency becomes more
manifest. Christianity also cuuvatc'
I land chastena it. Its doctrine of toe res
urcction gives new honor to the body
). That body is TO live again. The grave i
only its sleeping place. Then, says chris
d. tiauity give it beautiful place of rest
|. let it lie down by the side of kindred bod
' les mark the spot with memorial: au'
|. tread ligh tly where it rests.
1t was hcathen philosopher and no
G a christian who said, When ! die, han
}. nc upon tree with staff in my han'
g to scare the crows away Whatever
D. cold philosophy may say chrlslianit
I. does not so tlample upon the delicate ii
stincts of our beings rs to tell US that
/. matters not what becomes Of our bodic
9.,|when VIC die 1t is surety Of cons'
npcnco to the heing if it is Lot to tb
deud, that our place Of intcrmen: Shoul
;, be hallowed and an attractive spot.
D If this place should be beautilied, as
= NAV be bcautlfed, we may hope that
will draw hithcr the young in their sasop
lof recreation,--lnd thus some houl
be redeemed from frivolity and folly. W
may hope that the man o. business WI
. some times come and rest awhile amid il
! y quiet shades, and be led, perhaps, to ac
a lust his plans more by the light of etcgn
n ty. We may hope that those for who'
u u this world has lost its charms-who al
a ready to sink down in despair-will CON
III to learn here the lesson of living faith:
y, N faith that lights up the darkness OF tn
world. while it reveals the glories
at another. We may hope also that persol
"a of every class, seeking this pleasant r
~ treat. surrounded as they will be he
ms with mementocs of affection, with
x minders Of their own mortality. with CT
ar. blems Of christian hope, will find the
ms tendercr sensibilities quickened, and /
IN come more childlike and at the sane til
ar more manly, through the influence Of I'll
60 sacred spot
And may we not believe, that WI
nd such cemetery, those who have be
bereaved will oftcuer visit the pl'
'rS 'iIs Of their dead that the memory OF depa
-
cd ones will be kept greener.; aud U
pd lsi. with the passing years the ties of fam
Tor affection will be strengthened, as memo
of the same household and of klpd'
on on households, come often to the same 4
one where their friends lie side by sldc'-a =
made holy to them by common memoir
d'. and cared for by y common love v
int. not the ties Of human brotherhood also
gEl Sgl strengthened, as persons oil d'llcr