The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-09-07

time in their journeyings they were
 bitten by venomous serpents whose bite
 was sure to cause death But a way of healing by influence was open to ali that
 would look; they had only to look and
 the influence was perceptible for good,
 and life remained With the person so
 bitten. In this account we can see the
 wonderful power of influence.
 We go, we look, we see; the impress l is made; it goes with us; we use 1t;
 others take it up and it is carried still
 further, and so it goes on, like the
 swell that is made by the dropping of
 pebble into the calm ocean.
 | May we not also compare a visit to
 modern cemetery to the reading of
 what proves to be a delightfully."- writ
 ten book We are charmed with the
 opening pages of the story, and as we read on new and fresh thoughts open
 up to us at every page of the story. Thus as a person advances into and | through the modern cemetery. They discover objects of interest; new scenes, pleasing to the eye-new views. To the
 mind new thoughts that drive from the sorroWing heart many of the depress- ing and saddening thoughts that natur-
 ally dwell in the mind of a person vis- iting an old-time ground that Is still held in the embrace of old time ways of no care.
 With the advanced improvements that come with clear view of the grand things in nature, and will continue to unfold to him that works and studies her in her beautiful forms and designs, we may continue to look forward to something better. The cemetery, all though called the abode of the departed, is made to bloom and blossom and the beauties of it enter into the feelings of the sorrowing and brighten their path to an extent that they themselves could hardly think possible. And so may they go on, step by step, until they come to lose the sorrow and gloom that in times past has cast somber, sadden- ing Influence over their lives.
 When we contrast the conditions of the modern grounds of to-day with most grounds of a few years ago, hte vast resources of the country and the opportunities for improvement in ev- cry diverging line, reaching towards
 
 we not inclined to rejoice at the won derful influences that are exerted for improvements. A little more than a decade ago, when the nucleus of this society gathered at Cincinnati in the l Spring Grove office rooms to organize 1 this soceity, we think 1t safe to believe | that they would hardly have thought | that such an influence for improvement | would have gone out in so few years. We think we are safe In saying that at | that time, only few of our cemetery associations were giving much attention | to the care and beautifying of their grounds. At the presen time, as our ob- servations go out over the land, we find | that the influence of that little gather ing like seed sown in good ground, has sprung up and the fruits are being scat tered over the whole of this broad country, and we have reason to believe, is reaching to other lands.
 As you go through village or ham, let at the present time, you will find the cemetery, as it is now called Git used to be the old burying ground) has been very much improved Moneys nave been collected and the grounds Jul III OldCI. III llldIly CdSGS DGIDid- l lent trust funds are established. that he interest of the same may give per oetual care to the grounds. Index reg sters purchased, and perfect register lept of all burials. Many of the small grounds are building tombs The writer las in mind at the present time four mall cemetery grounds within cir 'uit of twenty miles that are building, IT have recently built. We must continue to think that this york is brought about by this silent in- luence that is still working, not only ' n the cemetery. but has extended in .reat measure to private grounds, and ] progress is being made, and the goodly influence has been moving forward step " step to that goal that every pro- l ressive superintendent is striving to s each, and yet never really expects to i ttain. Yet so long as his labor sends | Ut through the cemetery a perceptble ealthy influence on its lot owners and isitors, he will continue to strive and ' 'ork on and his grounds will improve nd people will rejoice under its infiu- nee and healthy Improvements until is labors cease and another will take D HIS poi o0i' anu pieSS loiWdfu ana \ pWard to another field that will sure ~ 7 come to us all, and in accordance as A e labor and strive in our respective osftions here we may feel with cer- A ,inty that the good influences of our A emeteres will remain long after we A re gone and forgotten by the world 1d only those influences remain to A low that we have ived' A