The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-16
HOPEFUL MOURNING.

| To give them beauty for ashes. the
garment of praise for the spirit of heav-
iness.-Isaiah kills
| In the long, long ago a custom prevail
ed which gave to All Saints day very
unique kind OF good cheer. The separat-
ed members of the family met in the old
home, and at the midday feast chairs
We're set not only for those who were
visibly present. but also for those who
had passed on to the higher life. 1t was
n recognition of the fact that hearts are
the same, whether they are on this or
the other side of the border. The dear
ones were not neglected, though with
trembling steps they had passed through
the shadows of death and emerged into
the bright sunlight of heaven. No one
was forgotten, and faith that the depart
ed still retained their interest in those
whose work was not yet finished. and
that they were glad to come back to add
their mite to the happy occasion, gave
the feeling of hope to the reunion and
made the future radiant and glorious.
That was a phase of religion which re-
minds US of the time when the disciples,
who had followed the Master through
three long years. were gathered togeth-
er. and Jesus came and stood In the
midst and said unto them, Peace be
with you" That incident was perhaps
the origin of this custom which glorifed
All Saints day. for it was we'll argued
that Il the Christ could come to those
whom He loved. then our other loved
ones might come also
II is right that we should mourn, for
even a temporary separation wounds the
heart A good-by can never pass the
lips without setting free the fountain of
our tears. But mourning with faith is
not like mourning without it. The sky
is clouded when we part with our dear
ones. even though the eyes see beyond
the clouds. but the tempest RACES fiercely
when we have no hope. and the very
roots of our being are torn up by its
destructive and relentless power.
There is no one on the footstCol who
makes such a draft on our sympathy
and pity as he who knows no future.
The vibrations of his grief. when he
looks over the churchyard wall, form a
kind Of crescendo which at last breaks
the heart. His despair. like the blind
Samson, puts its arms about the pillars
of the temple and brings the whole
structure of his being into ruin. We san
bear disaster Il only hope is left. but
disaster and despair are too much for
human nature to endure.
Still, we who mourn are not wholly in
the right. We robe ourselves in the
gloomiest black, which is a wall through
which the angels of relief cannot enter.
Black is a kind Of inhdelity which.
though We are unconscious OF II, Is very
harmful. sort OF barrier to the sweet
Influences Of another world. The eX-
IRENE Of mourning is too much a dis
play, and IL shows that we have not the
Of our convictions As a SYM
hoI of our state of mind, II IS not In ac-
cordance with the precepts of our reli-
Cion. II IS the garb Of a starless mid
night. quite unworthy Of our belief in
Immortality. God has not made any
thing black. then why should We? His |
sunshine covers the very grave with |
grass and flowers; His universe is bright |
and CHEEKY from dawn to dawn. Why. |
then. should We intimate by our gar !
nents that He has neglected to reveal !
1ur proper attitude in one OF the SUI I
preme moments OF life? The purpose OF |