The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-10-23
fIessses -. Nsasrsls.
~ HENRY WARD srxrHrR.

A correspondent IN the West formerly
residing in Brooklyn, N. Y, and there &C.
cus,omed to see aowen employed freely
at funerals, writes to W 70 say thsfbs bad
brought down upon himself severe animsd-
ysrsion by following this beautiful custom,
on recent funeral occasion, and he ssks
ne ! TO explain some opinion Of Tho use Of
flowers ai the burial Of our dead.
4" About fifteen years ago.i was called to
oficiate ut the burial OF sweet gih, about
sixteen ycars OF age. Her parents STOOD
high in society. and she WAS their only
child. When entered tho spacious par.
lors, and went 10 the coffin, the face was %
fair that Il seemed to mo as u tho world on
the other side was shining through IL. But
sho seemed lonely. In her narrow cham.
ber she lay, In pure whlte, without single
flower. could not bear Il, and without
saying word TO anyone I len the room.
There was, within block, q gsrien and
nursery, whose proprietor I welt know. l
fairly ran to his greenhouse, and without
saIuistion cried ON, sDayidson, cut mo cv-
eything choice, that ID white, that you have
got" .., ~.
With my hands full Of white roses, tube.
roses, orango- blossoms, sweet alyssum, &c,
I returned and entered the parlor. The
moment ] passed through tho door, every
ono seemed moved by tho sains impulse.
Tho father and mother roso up In tears and
came to tho coffin. Friends took them
from mo and began dressing tho cofin with
them, and The mother, with q deep igh,
said, "Ob, this 10 just what we waoted.
But we wsro too full Of sorrow to thiok Of
them" ,...f.,...f... ..
will any one tell mo why ihoss flowers
ought not TO have been there7 Can any ono
refuse flowers to dying bodies Of those who
arc dcsicpleso Of Him Of whom Il b said,
"Now In the place where ho was cruei6sd
there WIN garden, and In tho garden .
new sepulchre. There laid they Je.
sus."
For nv own pan, shall never cease to
be thankful that John (he only of all tho
Evangelis,s,) mentioned that comforting
fact.
Afler the grim horror OF The arrcst.night,
the fierce cruelties Of the trial, and the bur.
den and anguish Of the crucifxiou, II ts IN.
expressibly soothing to follow the sacred
form 10 the quietuds Of 4 garden and lay
him down In cool rock chamber, around
which floweis hung. There, IN the morn.
Ing. 6owen dropping with the weight Of
dew, leaned their heads against tho stone,
not knowing whose sepnlchro they maiI1
beaiItifuL nor that the perfume which thl
exhaled was nobler offering than oil thu
inccnse Of tho sanctuary! There. in . gar.
den, among green leaves, and f1grant
vines, aud spicy blossoms. and leaves rnur.
muring in the gentle wind, he rested. and
waited for the suspicious day when, lifting
his bead with removed Me, no should ut
up to new hope und sublime destiny every
man on earth! ,s .. I'D.
lfthere wero no other reason, tis enough
that friends sre comfoued. What mother
hut Is glad to see her innocent child, never
% dear and beautiful a. In death, lying
amidst fragrant fowenf Who that has
irue sentiment BAT feels that something ID
taken away of the esrthines Of death By tho
presence of flowers?
Must we forever regard death from tho
hcathcn stand point Shall we forever give
way 10 grief without restnint : Shall we
studiousiy endeavor to mako sadness yet
ssdder and grief yet moro snguishful 2
Shall We mufie ourselves In black and fi.
neral smelling crupe, and sing do'eful
hymns, and weep out iDounftil prayers,
and meanwhile refuse all senss Of victory,
all hope Of immortality, all knov'cdss tb:.
,hero b no deatll to . true soul, but only
exaliation into better life2
VI will no, leave you comfonless," aid
the Saviour Yet, ten thousand Christians
have 10 gIoomily bono their bsresvcments
that tho young and men Of tho world look
upou death n tho awful catastrophe OF
me. They bavs dressed their houses in
weeds, and lea the cose % bald and baso,
In tie bodily dishonos OF death, that u,su
have no reason to believe that Christ walks
with his disciples In the valley and shsd.
ow of death, or that he plucks beavenly
flowers and dresses Herewith The hearts Of
his followers, % that their sriels, like his
own suffering body. shall ress In . garden.