Page:Ritual of the Order eastern star (1921).djvu/139

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Funeral Ceremonies.
129

She needs not to be ministered unto; but may she not now minister to us? "Are they not all ministering spirits?" saith the apostle.

Love is an attribute of the soul and imperishable. Our sister's affection ceases not; therefore may she not now be whispering to grief-stricken hearts, "Peace, be still," "Lo, I am with you always." Think not that the spirit world is distant. Our loved ones, though lost to mortal sight, may yet be with us in spiritual existence. Let their loving presence be to us a perpetual inspiration, calling us to a higher moral and spiritual life.

These beautiful flowers are the highest expression of nature's loveliness. We never tire of looking at their perfect and delicately variegated tints. From time immemorial, they have been endowed with expressive language. They speak to us, "To whisper hope whene'er our faith grows dim." But these floral emblems, with all their exquisite loveliness, are but dim reflections of the glories that may be