The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-31
STANDARD HALL.
OUR DUTY TO THE DFAD-LEcTURE BY PROBES
soE FELIX ADLER.

OUR DUTY TO THE DFAD-LEcTURE By PROBES
soE FELIX ADLER
"Our Duty to the Dead" was the subject of Pro-
fessor Felix Adlers lecture yesterday before very
large assemblage at Standard Hail. He said In
the idea of duty owe to the dead we behold
source of strength and elevation in times of Attic
ton. There is twofold duty to the dead-hrst. to
the outward FORM secondly to the spiritual life Our
modern cultus of the grave and the morbid
sentimentalism that often gathers about it is
due largely to the influences of Christianity.
We shall endeavor to remove much possible the
dismal concomitants of DEATH We should do away
also with the false luxury of death-the wealth of
flowers that mock our mortality the costly monu-
mcnts that often erected to the pride of the
living to the honor of the dead We should above
all things detach all remembrance from the perish
able form aud know that the eye is broken
and warmth leaves the body we must seek dead
friend in his inanimate clay. His true image
must thcnceforh be in heart and be kept fresh and
sacred there. The second and greater duty which
owe to the dead is spiritual one. have said
that the idea of duty to the dead offers best
consolation. There are various modes of consoa-
ton. The promise of immortality is the most gem
era But ii We claim eternal continuance after death
we must admit eternal existence before birth. And
who does not that this is q speculation?
They say that there must be punishment to the
guilty aud reward to the good. But how can we
base conclusions upon ideas OF justice AZ to the
Infinite They plead for immortality because we
accomplish little and long for completeness. And it
is true the perfect grows, but in the race and the
good increases. but who gives us the right to claim
that its full fruition be realized in individuals !?
MODES CONSOLATION.
There are other modes of consolation that We
shall cease to cling to, and then we shall escape
being bruised. But who would follow this egotistc
counsel Who would not rather endure all the
pains which affection brings than have pains ut
the price OF having no. affections? Nor does
it help us to say that time will heal
Is it prospect that shall comfort us that we, from
whom part OF our spiritual selves has been taken,
shall become accustomed to lean upon the crutch OF
habit and forget that diminished In the
stature of humanity. and forget the height OF being
that ours? No, less, but Larger, must
we grow through grief. that alone help u.s. That
affection shall make iinselfsh is the
true relief. For all happiness depends upon
the personal relations, but all grandeur of soul
depends upon the service of impersonal ideas.
tions then shall our feelings be led to the mper-
sonal When have lost in happiness. then shall
gain in nobleness ard grandeur. Thus we be-
come indeed greater beings when we have learned
stepping stone to more exalted virtue;
when the loss of child will make us
more tender to the children of the neglected
when the loss OF friend will make us more earnest
helpers of the friendess; when our own saddest ex
perence, though it reach down to the unfnthomable
depths of woe, will only make our hearing more
acute detect the sounds OF anguish coming from
others, and our hearts more ready and our hands
more helpful. So not In dwelling upon the contin-
Of self, not in comparing our sufterngs with
those Of others, not in bunting feelings but lr
the increase of righteousness earth for the sake
OF dear dead. is the real the supreme consola-
ton. So. the loss remains loss but the anguish is
stilled, the pain transfgured into divine motive
until star OF life sets and We ourselves are
gathered into the great repose.