New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-02
THE HOUSE OF MOURNING.

The Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix preached In Trim
fly Church yesterday morning from these words: us
better TO 20 to the house OF mourning than 10 go 10 ths
bouse OF feastng for that ia the end OF all men, and
the living will lay 1t TO his heart" Eccesiastes H. T.
He began by saying that at first these words seem
strange, but reflection must show their truth lie VINO
serves God with earnesness and sincerity aud believes
IN what He has said must often be conounded by the
indifference OF others to what of the first Importance
IN his eyes, great part Of the appear to have no
thought whatever of anything beyond this world ana
this present time they are so imOedded III the frame Oh
temporal things that 1t Is hard to release them But
they do ask to be released they are content Win
their state. Such marvel to the religious, VINO
arc at loss for this practical ignoring Of the
one thing which should be foremost In thoughts This
Ignorance aud this Indifference not natural they are
acquired at considerable They are the result OF
refusing look at certain aspects OF life aud OF persist
whom everything outside OF temporal Is sedu
lousy kept from sight II this Ignorance aud this lndf-
era direction ana tendency OF the individual fs. Men
either resolved not to or they are so engrossed
other things that they live as II with no Thought OF
the future. Looking at such persons we see now the
house OF mourning Is better than the house OF feasng
The knowledge OF the truth Is surely good for US always
though it he painful II the world In few days
is to 10 an end for me, the sooner know ana the
steadily Keep II III view, the better Inc WOrid'
with all concerns is a theaer OF vanity, which dis
solves like a cloud, which passes like shadow on a
plain. and may vanish for Us NJ any moment Hence 10
il better for us the house OF mourning where
such thoughts familiar, than to the house OF least
ing where they are put away.
From these considerations wider apears 10 the
text is at first All the people Of the earth live
S1e sS T hs os9fr dsn aspects 81 lie
The significance OF the house OF mourning" IS that
embodies the grave solemn, and earnest aspect-the
aspect which always presents Itself TO the thoughtful
What house Of mourning shall We call this world
Through great pain and sorrow, with weakness ana
tears was our coming into IT, With the passing away OF
infancy and OF reckless aud happy cDdn0Od come the
knowledge of good aud evil aud the first wiltul delo
erat All
stand and OF the Christians long and doubtful warfare
feastng and gayety What OF and comfort we
have generally acquired by toll and our peace iolows
after conflict All tie far things OF life are lust above
cav Think OF the arduous labors Of most men, and OF
ades which cast down and aiic-ot the anxeties and
alarms which disturb mans H., interior ma ma,
imperfecf. il not so evil as most OF US may fear.
Look into your past aud at what Is before you ana you
Wise ia in the house OF mourning" There is little
wisdom and little religion outside OF IT, The second OF
the beatitudes IL, Blessed are they that mourn not
only they who shed tears but they or grave ana earnest
temper who 20 through life serious and careful where
world and their own They look to Him for their de-
liyerance when their sorrowf pilgrimage - ended;
life without reflection IN shtuesS and frlvolty deter
mined not 70 hear ANYTHING dssaeeaoe OF pn non
tinually go up to God On this light gay, frivolous way
Of e some men fix Their m 'e rs nSar STRANGE to-
Christians but has been that OF whole nations, VINO
taken as tnelr uS AOi w
morrow die" -
Without being gloomy morbid, can see why 1t is
better to 20 the house of mourning The real mean
ing OF life ia only be read there and the teachings
there sound just and true. In this house the truth
that pervades life is not concealed, but tue
remedy Ia laugh, In the redeeminG work OF Christ.
Secondly 1t il better to TO the house OF mourning
because adversely always produces higher Characters
than prosperity The temper which turns lie into q
feasng saloon is Just the which most debases and
degrades Nothing is more tiresome than continual
testing and the set smile on the face OF folly
Thirdly IL is better because OF the company we Keep
there Tnere are the worlds Deneactors whose hearts
bsd 10 see other hearts bleeding who spent themselves
for Others and even LAID doH their lives Not in the
house Of easting in the house OF mourning shall we
nd apostles martyrs saints apatence resignation and
love- faith and trust energy and sacrifice are the words
illuminated by angels and spirits all over the walls of
the house OF mourning from which true rivers OF glad
ness how over the world.
There is also a time for feasng when God permits,
and easts the more to be enjoyed because be-
gun and ended with His blessing. lu Christs FEAST
who Was no gloomy missnthrope although be lived IN
the house Of mournngsou and spirit were fed as well
as the body and deep and grave Ideas through all
The preacher then referred 10 the gores OF Gods eter
nal house, and closed with the wish that 1t may be
well with all when the end OF tae world shall come,
and all the skies shall ring with JOY because Tie days VI
p grmage and mourning are ended"