The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-11-27

! GBfAk IL IL tttl1 tAoO Sis
ing-singIug which must necessarily be
| characterized by the above elenerts-does
not consist in being a finely accomplished
singer. Hence there are plenty of people
who are living in rural districts who have
never been taught q scale of music-per-
sons who live in the most obscure places
in country habitations-who are better
qualified aud would make excellent sub
stitntes fer many of the so called fashion,
able choir singers OF the preseutday, whose
| singing is a mockery, and in the language
of Russell II. Couwell, is a b~lasphemy to
religion. After singing the pastor led in
prayer. Il was fervent and impressive. |
have seldom heard a prayer that was SO
earnest. After its conclusion, he read LIST
Cor. 18th chapter. Then the congregation
joined in singing:
sThere is a land of pure delight
While this beautiful hymn was being
sung, I noticed q middle aged woman sit
ting in one of the front seals; she was weep
ing. By her side were two little children.
Right in 'front.' of the middle aisle, at the
head of the church, was a casket which
contained the body of their husband and
father. 1t was adorned with wreaths of
evergreen. and a circle of roses lay on the
breast of the deceased. By this time the
singing had ended. and the pastor ooh for
his text: Psalms 1914: Lord make me to
know my end, and the measure of my days;
what it is, that may know how frail |
am
The minister dwelt upon the past life of
the deceased; he enumerated his qualities,
pointed ont the precepts which he follow
ed in his life, and gave touching incidents
bearing on his death. He spoke cheering
words to the bereaved; he pointed them
IL z-JI
smooth away all circulation and would
comfort them in their bereavement. He
beautifully referred to the resurrection of
the dea / and the eternal life beyond the
"Foi cur light OF afiietion which is but
for a moment, worketh fer us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
There Is no death, the stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore,
And brightiu Heavens jeweled crown
They shine forcvermore.
There is TO death. It is only the wicked
who think so. To the Christian man it is
like a sleep; it is but gently passing from
the faded scenes of life to the fairest man
sions of the blest.
The accident of the past week which has
torn many of our friends away may come
10 a like monen to Us, and whether we,
like our dear brother, earn our subsistence
in the bowels of the earth, or whether we
pursue other ayocations here below, it does
not matter. His death is but another H.
lustration of the shortness of life, and the
necessity for being better prepared for that
inalday which must come to us all sooner
or later.
When he had finished the sermon, whieh
was not very long, the pastor announced
as the closing hymn:
ssSiegD in Jesus. blessed SippU
1t Has very street., and as the harmoni-
Gus blending of voices, and the rich echoes
Of the organ poured forth the hymn above,
its effect was magical. | could see an aged
man in front of me dry the tears that were
falling down his face, aud several others
who, just q moment before seemed greatly
affected, put on the air of perfect resign
ment. The sermon had indeed been
solemn, as a funeral sermon generally is.
but the singing of this sweet verse tended
to eliminate the feeling of sadness which
had previously controlled their thoughts.
When the service was all over, the con-
gregation moved slowly out of church. l
waited until near the end. The family and
friends of the deceased followed the coffin.
The venerable pastor walked by the side
of the bereayed widow, comforting her in
the hope of the reanion beyond the grave.
L = - ~ ONN.Rotpd. L no ltkbtC Dai
followed in procession tie remains of the
dead.
The little birds were CHIPPING joyfully
10 the trees overhead. The bright sun-
light reflected through the canopy of gold
en- leaves and fell in radiant beams upon
the company marching to the tomb. The
graveyard was soon reached. 1t was stu
ated on the side of a hill, a short distance
from the town where the first rays of
dawniug light emanating from the eastern
sky would fall in soothing tenderness upon
its grassy turf. 1t was a very quiet place,
far removed from The busy scenes of life
and surrounded with quiet and singular
soiici5ude, repleuisbed and crowned by the
diversified objects OF nature. 1t was such
a place as would be preferable to anyone,
especially to those whom the surroundings
Of genial Nature would prove most ac-
eeptable, for there were the rugged
mountains. the quiet valleys, and the
spreading forest trimmed with the gayest
robes Of nature, and the little stream of
clear mountain water flowing a short dis
lance away. All is harmonious. You can
imagine that yoa are standing with pic
lures around you Which have been described
in the BOOKS you ave read. Where
it speaks OF the valleys lying in the quiet
embrace of the everlasting hills" occa-
sionafiy adorned with timinutive speckled
dwellings, and where a stream of water is
h0g ing peacefully down between the ma
jestic hills TO the sea, laughing in the sun
light. How nDmindful are all things of
nature to our temporal state in life. We
like the leaves die and pass away. Nature
is resurrection. Observe the first appear
auce of leaves. grass, trees and twigs in
the spring time of their life. How they
spread and flourish in their strength. Watch
the acorn hid away in the soil of the earth
and see it in early spring shoot out and
grow and finally become a great tree. But
they finally die ard are 10 more, until
at the call of the south wind they spring
up ali over the earth-sweet prophesies of
the resurrection, And SO
There + ne death! WHIT seems so is transit
lion.
This life otmortal breath
Is but the suberb Of the life eiysian
Whose portal we call Geath.''
AsI stood musing thus, intent upon
viewing these scenes of nature, / turned
and looked at the gathering be-
You'd me. The casket had been lowered
in the grave and the pastor was just per-
forming the last sacred rites over the re-
mains Of the dead. Every head was bow
ed as be reyefently prayed for the deceased
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