The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-08

living Christ. No wonder is 1t that at the
portals of cemeteries she says: Keep away,
We profane; enter, those who believe; within
the precincts of the cemeteries loosen from
your feet the sandals of earth, walk over
this ground as you would approach the
burning bush Of Jehovah; be silent and reVer,
entail in the midst Of Gods children and
wonder awe-strcken at the great things TO
be done by Gods omnipotence within the
cemetery The Christian cemetery as we
know it is the natural outgrowth OF CHRISTIAN
faith. Before Christ pagan nations burned
the remains of the dead. The question was
to rid ones self as rapidly as possible OF
what spoke only of death, of the victory
of death, Of the weakness Of man. Christ
taught another life. the Immortality OF the
soul; and hence when we die the church Bios
us to reverence the body. 1t is to us sun
the temple of the SOUL which one day Is
to come back to it. The body sprang from
earth let US give it back to earth, ana let
earth open to it its bosom, cover 1t with It's
grasses and flowers; let the sunshine OF the
skies come down upon 1t. Leave 10 earth
the care of the body, do not hasten by I'M
proved scientific methods to melt away at
once into dust the temple Of the soul. Leave
the body in the care of earth, let 1t snip away
slowly from our loving grasp. why Wish
to speed it at once where never more you
can feel that you are near 1t? Let 1t melt
away slowly, keep it with you in your be-
loved cemetery long as nature permits;
visit the grave from time to time, stand near
It. hearken to the whisperings coming from
it, Your soul will be better and more SPIT
itual, and the prayer which you will utter
from your hearts Will rise before COO 10
benefit the soul, if the soul needs COO
mercy Remember the future reign, the
future victory of the body. We have our
selves no right TO lay hands upon the poay
and say 1t must disappear as quickly as pos
sible. New methods Of disposing OF the dead,
among which is cremation, are not in mar
mony with the whisperings of our christian
faith. While they seem profane TOWARDS me
dead they deprive the living of the grand,
sweet lessons which come to US from our
Christian cemeteries. Give to every one OF
the departed friends his little nome anu
put over it the cross of Christ. Tell TO the
world that the grave is the grave OF be-
lever. Tell to the world that cut Of the
grave it one day will rise. Silent as the
will be made there so manifest that, we snail
exclaim: "Oh, death, where now is thy sting?
On, death where now is thy victory!
counsel, my brethren, visit from tIlllG 10
not a thoughtless visit, but a visit OF the
heart, a visit during which you VIII com,
mune with the dead, during wnlch you VIII VIII
open your souls to the inspirations OF Ihe
cemetery to the teachings and the consola-
lions OF your holy faith. Before leaving
the cemetery speak to the dead, say 70 1heLl'
pray for You know our mlseries' our our
sorrows, our pains, pray for us that Coo
may grant US the needed graces; and, II,
beloved friends. you are IN purgatory' we
will Dray for YOU We will offer our good
works for you, we will sanctify our own life,
that we may merit for you eternal rest. ana;
having spoken to the spirits OF the departed
ones before leaving the cemetery ask your
selves if you ought not above all Things else
take care of your immortal souls; ana go
back to the living world determined TO re-
main free from sin, to serve Coo SO CndC
one day when your own bodies shall be car
ried to Calvary cemetery, your fr1enqs may
have the blessed assurance that you nved LOT
God that you are with God, and that one
day under the power of God your bodies will
rise from the grave, spiritual and blessed,
victorious in the victory of Christ.