The bee., 1902-06-05
RELIGIOUS NOTES.
BY OBSERVER.

at his old home at Onton, May 30
and attend the decoration day SER
vices. 1t has been the custom of
the people of this community for a
number of years to observe this
holiday and decorate the graves of
relatives and friends. Several SOL
diers are buried in the cemetery there
and being a large and well kept
cemetery, the decorations with flags,
flowers and evergreens are very
beautiful.
Rev. w. G. Wilson the pastor Of
the M. E. church had announced
the services several weeks ago and
as there was to be services both in
the forenoon and afternoon, also
dinner on the ground, a large crowd
was on hands which doubtless would
have been twice as large only for
the rain and threateninglweather.
The Providence train being two
hours late your humble servant,
with the pastor did not arrive until
noon, ana the aforesaid dinner on
the ground was the first feature of
the program they were permitted to
engage in, (and with respect to the
cloth we will mention here that they
performed the part well.) A sump-
tuous repast was served after which
the people gathered into the church
and Rev, E. b. TimmOns, of Ear
lington delivered the address. Rev.
A. j. Bennett, of Maysville, made
the opening prayer. Rev. Bennett
is former pastor, of Darlington
circuit. he and family are visiting
relatives in Onton community.
Rev. E. d. Elliott, a superanuate
member of the Kentucky Confer
ance was also present and pastici-
pated in the services.
At the conclusion of the address
the people repaired to the cemetery
and distributed their tokens of love
and tenderness on the graves of the
dead. 1t was to the writer a very
impressive scene as the servivors
tenderlY laid their offerings on the
graves Of their loved ones. Grand
parents, parents and children low
ingly betokenIng their affections
for the departed relatives and
friends. Much credit is due to Mr..
w. T. Smith for his faithful service
as keeper Of the cemetery in that
country graveyard. We were deep
lily impressed with the following
beautifu poem by Mary J. Holmes: /:
The City Of the Dead.
"There is a beautiful city
Laid off in walks and squares,
Where flowers in rich profusion
Perfume the summer airs.
'Tis there the willow waiveth
And the violet lifts its head,
They call this lovely city
The city of the dead.
1.-The breeze In gentle dallIance
From flower to flower roves,
And the very air seems purer
In those quiet shady groves.
No sound disturbs the stiffness,
No laughter rude and loud,
There's something in that city
That awes even the gayest crowd.
"And side by side there slumber
The rich man and the poor,
There foes lie down together
Nor harm each other more.
There sleep the great, the lowly
The same trees DER them wave
Earth's proud and vain distinctions
Are leveled by the grave.
"Here some weary aged warrior
Quietly takes his rest,
Near him pale young mother
With her babe on her breast.
There the wealthy merchant slumb-
ers
And dreams no more of gain,
And the widowed one forgeteth
Life's WEAKNESS and pain.
1.-The bride in ner fair beauty
With orange buds in her hair,
And the wedding robe around her
Sleeps calm and peaceful there.
There the orator proud reposes
With stone at head and feet,
A nameless one lies near him
Whose rest is just as sweet.
ARTIST, Statesman, Poet,
Wooers alike of fame,
Your hunting dreams have vanished
A white slab bears your name.
All! who has not bowed in weeping?
Over some coffined head,
For we all have loved and lost ones
In the city of the dead"
g M T.