Mementoes and Memorials.

A WELL-KEPT Cemetery is a pretty place. Its graveled walks, its graceful trees and shrubs, its ornamental flower-beds, its many monuments and affectionate epitaphs, together with its freedom from the noise and traffic of the highway, render it an agreeable place of resort to the thoughtful and seriously disposed. It is, however, notwithstanding all its pleasantness, but a vast “Sleeping Chamber,” as the word “Cemetery” literally means. Perhaps some of the youthful readers of the Goon NEWS will not object to accompany me, in thought, while I take a short ramble through the one to which I introduced them last month, as we may, with God’s blessing, find something both to interest and instruct us.
We will on our way look at some of the inscriptions on the tombstones; and I may say that I have seldom in any burial-ground which I have seen met with so many that are good. Let us commence with those relating to the very young. One pretty and simple stone is inscribed by the parents to the memory of their twin daughters, who both died a few days after their birth. What a sweet and simple history was theirs. They drew their breath in this world for a very short time, and then passed away to be with Christ forever. What a blessing that “His precious blood was shed, His body bruised for sin!” Another pleasing inscription is to a little one of the sweet name of Grace, her parents’ “dearly-loved child;” and in a small crescent at the head of the stone are the cheering words, “Until the day break.” On both of these stones are written the words in Isaiah 40:11: “He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” What a good and loving Shepherd Jesus is! Is He not? Another stone is to the memory of a little dear aged three months, and on this is written, “Is it well with the child? It is well.” In order that you may see where these words are taken from, and learn their proper meaning in their own place, will you kindly read the second Book of Kings, fourth chapter, from the 8th to the 37th verse? It will well repay an attentive perusal.
The following lines are on a baby boy six months old:—
“Blessed baby, laid to rest
Gently on thy Saviour’s breast,
Dweller in the realms of light,
Should we wish to stay thy flight,
And keep thee here?”
Much to the same effect is this verse on two other children:—
“It is God who has taken our children away
From sorrow, and sickness, and pain;
But why should we murmur, like those without hope?
Our loss is their infinite gain.”
The next relates to a little girl six months old: —
“‘I take this little lamb,’ said He,
‘And lay her on my breast;
Protection she shall find in me,
In me be ever blest.’”
“Here lies our lovely bud,
Untimely blasted by the tempest’s power;
Yet she will bloom beyond life’s troubled flood,
A bright and glorious flower.”
It is a great sorrow to parents to part with their dear children whom they have so carefully reared, and for whom they have thought and cared so much. This Scripture, from Job 9:12,12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? (Job 9:12) applied to the loss of a daughter, eight years of age, is a very natural expression under such circumstances: “Behold, He taketh away. Who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him, What doest Thou? “The following lines, however, on a little dear, 2 1/2 years of age, with the lovely name of Florence Maud, sweetly express the true bowing of the heart under the hand of God: —
“Submission to the will of God,
Let each sad bosom feel;
The stroke is from a Father’s rod,
Who only wounds to heal.”
What a blessing it is to have believing parents, who bring us up in the fear of the Lord and in the knowledge of His Word! Not only are we the subjects of their constant care, but also of their prayers to a heavenly Father. The love of a mother for her child, even when that mother was about to leave this world, is sweetly expressed in these words, which are on one of the tombstones!
“I leave this world without a tear,
Save for the child I hold so dear;
To heal her sorrows, Lord, descend,
And to the friendless prove a Friend.
I leave her at Thy feet, O Lord,
Trusting in Thy eternal Word,
Rejoicing in the hope that’s given
Of meeting her I love in heaven.”
WE will now look at two or three of the memorials of some who, having passed the period of childhood, have been taken away in the bloom of youth or early manhood. There are few sights more affecting than that of a young man or woman passing away forever from all earthly charms and prospects to which, at that period of life, they so naturally cling. I have seen many such instances, and have not unfrequently shed the sympathetic tear for them; but, happily, my experience has been mostly among those who were leaving this world for a better, because they were trusting in Christ, and were, consequently, going to Him. And how blessed it has been to see the power that Christ and heavenly things have had in their souls, so as to eclipse all the glories and expectations which this passing scene could present to their earnest hearts and minds.
How appropriate to a young man leaving this world are the words, “His sun has gone down while it was yet day;” and, “We all do fade as a leaf.”
On another, who died after a few days’ illness, at the age of twenty-three, it is said, “He came up, and was cut down like a flower.” This is to the effect, though not in the exact words, of Job 14:22He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. (Job 14:2).
The perusal of such inscriptions on tombstones is doubtless in some cases made a blessing. When I was a youth I read in a quiet churchyard in the country this verse in Job, placed over the body of some person who had died young, and the reality of the uncertainty of life struck me with much seriousness, which, I believe, was never entirely obliterated from my mind, though it was not till some time after that I was brought as a sinner to look to the Lamb of God and to find eternal life in Him. I would remind my young friends of what Wisdom says in Proverbs 8:17: “Those that seek me early shall find me.” We know from 1 Corinthians 1. that “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God;” and often does He, in His grace, set a soul seeking Him, in order that he may find Him, as we may see in John 1:4545Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (John 1:45). If you do not yet know the blessing of being brought to Jesus, may God work in your heart by His Spirit, that this blessing may be yours. It is Jesus, however, who is the Seeker of the sinner, as He said, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Our walk through the cemetery must now close, and I hope that it has not been without some profit to us.
T.
“Learn of Me.”
O LORD, in my weakness,
On Thee may I lean,
And learn of Thee meekness,
While passing this scene;
Who, when Thou didst suffer
While walking below,
As roads became rougher,
Didst say, “Even so.”
Thy Father’s good pleasure
Was e’er Thy delight,
In joy’s passing leisure,
And sorrow’s long night.
Though friends all forsook Thee,
Though Judas betray’d,
And foes came and took Thee,
On God Thou wart stay’d.
Thy sorrows now ended,
Thou, there on the throne,
Hast ever befriended
And succor’d Thine own.
Thy heart is so tender,
So faithful and free,
It claims the surrender
Of mine unto Thee
T.