Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-09-29
ADDRESS
REV. DR.. ANDREW VS.,
AT THE DEDICATION OF
EL.NVOOD CE.NETERY Y,
SHEPHERDSTOWN,
September 28th, 1867.

y
Cemetery was dedicated, when the toll
| lowing address was delivered; since that
time the speaker, and many of his hear
ers on that occasion, have 'entered
upon their right to resting place In
earth, till earth gives up her dead
Several persons having requested ina!
this address be published, the request Is
complied with in the hope that 1t may
be comforting to many who mourn the
loss of friends buried there, as well as
awakening all interest among our cltl-
zens (mosr OF whom look upon 1t as
their last resting place. to SEE the en-
closure completed with a substantial
fence in front and keepers house.
Nature has done more for it than any
other burying ground in this section OF
the country, let man do the rest.
We trust that the young and thought
less in visiting this place, will recollect
that it is not a public park, nor place
for the indulgence of mirth and amase-
meut, or boisterous talking and unseen
ly laughter as we have too frequently
seen there, but a city Of the dead, where
every thing should be in unison and har-
mony with the solemuity Of the spot.
Let the voice be hushed and the foot
tread lightly on entering a place sacred
to so many Of this community, as con-
tanning the dust of those most dear 10
them.
The theme of the discourse is, "Ihe
vantoge ground ,rhich Christianity en-
abies every man 10 occupy o0hen stand
ing upon The earth which shall Ultimate
ly bury HIM"
FELLOW CITIZENs-The occasion which
has gathered us here is certainl y one of
rarest occurrence OF The many solem-
mites to be witnessed hereafter upon
these grounds, all will be Of different
character from this. Even the funerals
which reuds the hearts Of few, leaves
the multitude unmoved.
But of This assembly if none have
come as mournerS none surel y have
come as spectators. With few eXcep-
tons we of the present company expect
shortly to be buried here, and we come
in mass as it were to enter upon our
right to a resting place in earth, till
earth gives up her dead.
The scene reminds us Of this custom
Of the churches in Egypt at tie begin
ming Of the plague when It Is foreseen
that the number of the dead will be so
great that all cannot receive the rites OF
burial, the whole christian population
are assembled in the churches and the
burial service is read.
DO any ask what mean We by the ser
vice I'VE reply that while some are
SO constituted as not to be impressed by
ceremonies (as is occasionally true of
music,) yet with the great majority Of
mankind it is different.
They are not only interested IN, but
permanently moUcd By rites and cere-
monies suited to their subjects. The AL
mighty himself takes knowledge OF this
quality Of our nature-which is bis own
work and appeals TO it as auxiliary to
the moral sense.
Under the Mosaic Institutes suited to
the earlier ages Of the world and to a
partial revelation, the ceremonies Or
dained by God himself were gorgeous to
the highest degree. And when at tie
Christian Era having served their pur-
pose and been abrogated 10y the same
authority, other ceremonies were insti
tuted-few, simple, and of gravest i'm
port, and never to be abrOgatcd to
the end Of time.
No advancement Of knowledge, or re-
fnement of taste, conceivable in the
coming ages of progress, could exempt
from their observance, as in truth no
subject Of the Christian religion how
ever cultivated could fail to need their
assistance or to feel their power
So also of mankind in pursuance of
Divine example-in all ages and ma
tons when entering upon any work Of
unusual solemnity, it has been done
with suitable forms of inauguration
and in what with more propriety than
when a community takes formal posses
sion of place where from generation
TO generation earth shall open her hos
pitable bosom to embrace her children.
III entering upon this part OF the SER
vice, the question arises, what shall be
the theme of discourse and in view
of the selection the speaker telicitates
himself upon the character OF his audi
ence; for after conserving to perform
this service Of meme other could be
found) turned to an elaborate address,
delivered by a minister of religion on a
similar occasion in the vicinity of a
great city. hoping to learn something
from it, tor the better discharge of my
own duty, but | found it a series of
beautiful figures, and of soothing senti-
mental suggestions, with little or moth
inc which might not have been pro-
duced by a cultivated heathenism. The
speakers apology must have been that
he spoke to a crowd embracing not
only the Christian, but the Atheist and
;he Jew of whom none must be offend
ed. From what stunt point then shall
we address you?-0or it must needs be
from some stand-poin0-shall it be from
the standpoint of Dsis"l, or natural re-
:. Cd ayl