The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-02


Flowers are appropriate on such occa-
sions, for in ninety-nine out OF 100 cases il
is the best thing that could have happened.
The world may criticise and pronounce IL
an inaptitude, and may lift its eyebrows in
surprise and think ii might suggest some
thing better; but the God who sees the
twenty, forty, fifty years OF welded life be-
fore they have begun arranges all for the
best. So that flowers, in almost all cases,
are appropriate for the marriage day. The
divergences OF disposition will become cor
responsiveness, recklessness will become
prudence, frivolity will be turned into
practicality.
There has been many an aged widowed
soul who had carefully locked bureau,
and in the bureau box, and in the box a
folded paper, and in the folded paper a
half-blown rose, slightly fragrant, discol-
ored, carefully pressed. She put II there
forty or fifty years ago. On the anniyer-
sary day OF her wedding she will go TO the
bureau, she will lift the box, she will I'M
fold the paper, and TO her eyes will
be exposed the hali-blowu bud,
and the memories Of the past will
rush upon her, and tear will
drop upon the flower; and suddenly il
is TRANSPORTED, and there is q stir in the
dust Of the anther, and IL rounds out, and
il is full OF life, and it begins to tremble
in the procession up the church aisle, and
the dead music OF a half century ago comes
throbbing through the air; and vanished
faces reappear, and right hands are joined,
and manly voice promises: 81 will for
better or for worse" and the wedding
march thunders q salvo OF Joy at the de-
rtf n. I,,t all -
versary day scatters the scene. Under the
deep-fetched breath, the altar, the flowers,
the congratulating groups arc scattered,
and there is nothing left but trembling
hand holding faded rosebud, which is
put into the paper and then into the box,
aud the box carefully placed In the bureau,
and with sharp, sudden chick Of the lock
the scene is over
All, my friends, let not the prophecies
Of the flowers on your wedding day be
false prophecies. BE blind TO each others
faults. Make the most OF each others ex-
celencies. Above all do not get mad
once. Remember the VOWS, the ring on
the third finger OF the left hand and the
benediction OF the Gala lilies.
3. II You insist on asking me the ques-
ton: What are flowers good for? | an
swer, they are good 10 honor aud comfort
the obsequies. The worst cash ever made
into the side OF our poor earth Is the cash
OF the grave. It's so deep, II is so cruel,
IL is so incurable that II needs something
TO cover ii up. Flowers for the casket,
flowers for the hearse, flowers for the
cemetery.
What contrast between a grave in a
country churchyard, with the fence broken
n Al a
tho neigh boring cattle browsing amid
the mullen stalks, and the Canada
| thislles. and June morning in Green
wood, the wave Of roseate bloom rolling TO
the top OF the mounds, and then breaking
into foaming crests OF white flowers all
around the pillows OF dust II is the diff
terence between sleeping under rags and
sleeping under an embroidered blanket.
We want Old Mortality with his chisel to
20 through all the gravcyards Of Christen-
dom, and while he carries ehisel in one
hand we want Old Mortality 10 have some
flower seed in the palm Of the other hand.
"Oh," you say, the dead don't know;
| Il makes no difference TO them" / think
YOU are mistaken. There are not 30
many steamers aud rail trains coming 10
any living city as there arc conveys com
ing from heaven 10 earth; aud II there he
instantaneous and constant communica-
ton between this world and the better
world, do YOU not suppose your departed
| friends know what you do with their
bodies2 Why has God planted golden
rod" and wild flowers in the forest aud on
the prairie where no human eve ever sees
them7 He planted them there for invisi-
| bic intelligences 10 look nj and admire,
and when invisible intclligenccs come 10
| look at the wild flowers Of the woods and
the tablclands, will they not make excur-
sions and see the flowers which YOU have
planted In ancctionate remembrance OF
them2
When I am dead would like 10 have
a handful OF violets-any one could pluck
them out OF the grass, or some one could
| lit from the edge OF the pond n water.
| lily-nothing rarely expensive or insane
display, as sometimes at funeral rites where
the display takes the bread from the
childrcn's mouths and the clothes from
their backs, but something from the great
democracy Of flowers. Rather than i'm.
perinl cataialque OF Russian Car, | ask
some one whom I may have helped by
gospel sermon or Christian deed 10 brinl
a sprig Of arbutus or handful Of China
astcB.
II was left ior modern times 10 spell
respect for the departed and comfort FOL
the living In letters Of floral gospel. Pill
low OF flowers, meaning rest for the pill
grim who has got 20 the end Of his jour
ney. Anchor Of flowers, suggesting Oh,
Christian hope which We have M an an
chorto the soul, sure and steadfas,. Croe'
OF flowers, suggesting the tree on which
our sins were slain.
II I had my way, would cover up al
the dreamless slccDes, whether Ia golden
handled casket or pine box, whether I
kings mausoleum or potter's field, will
radiant aud aromatic arborcsccncc. Tn
Bible says, In the midst Of the garden Their
was n sepulcher. | wish that every sep
ulcher might he In the midst Of n garden
4. II you insist on asking me the qucs
lion what are flowers good ior2' i answe
for religious symbolism. Have you eve
studded. scriptural hora2 The Bible Ia Al
arbetum, Il Is divine conservatory; II i
a herbarium Of exquisite beauty. II yol
want 10 illustrate the brcyity Of the bright
est human life you will quote from job
"a man cometh forth a. a flower and
cut down." Or you will quote from tn
Psalmist: "As the flower Of the field, q
he pcrisheth; the wind paseth over Il am
il u gone" Or you will quote from Isaiah
Gan flesh IL grass, aud the goodlines
thereof IL ~ the flower OF the field" o
you will quote from James tho Apostle
"As the flower Of the grass, 70 he paEset
away" What graphic bible symbolism
All the cut flowers Of this Easter da
, will soon be dead, whatever care Won tax