. Fenimore Cooper's grave and Christ churchyard . ch,where the outdoor function appears as a naturalsequence to the service of the sanctuary, and isconnected w^ith it by an orderly processional fromthe church to the churchyard. Christ churchyard, in the full glory of its Summerfoliage, offers a superb setting for such a service,and the now rare occasions of interments Avithinthis quaint Gods acre are long remembered bythose who witness them. After the service in thechurch the procession of choir and clergy, headedby the crucifer, issues from the main door, followedby the bearers carrying the b
. Fenimore Cooper's grave and Christ churchyard . ch,where the outdoor function appears as a naturalsequence to the service of the sanctuary, and isconnected w^ith it by an orderly processional fromthe church to the churchyard. Christ churchyard, in the full glory of its Summerfoliage, offers a superb setting for such a service,and the now rare occasions of interments Avithinthis quaint Gods acre are long remembered bythose who witness them. After the service in thechurch the procession of choir and clergy, headedby the crucifer, issues from the main door, followedby the bearers carrying the bier upon their shoul-ders. The mourners and the remainder of thecongregation come reverently after, and with thethrilling chorus of some triumphant resurrection-hymn the procession moves slowly to the sunshine sifts through the foliage of the over-arching trees, glitters upon the processional cross,gleams upon the white robes of choristers, andtransforms into a mantle of glory the pall thatdrapes the body of the dead. At the grave, the. .2 > •^ OJ 3 X -M Gj ^ o -l-l QJ >> O > o O w c« 3 > n o o S fcXJ o ^ ./I 1 /I ^ 8o .^ A Churchyard Funeral 63 dirge-like anthem l)e(>iniiing Man that is born ofa woman is less lngul)rioiis when well sung thanas commonly read, and adds a more upliftingquality to this portion of the service. A solemnhush falls upon the company as the priest stepsforward for the formal act of burial. The dustflashes momentarily in the sunbeams as it fallsfrom his hand into the open grave, while therhythmic cadences of the committal float onceagain over the consecrated ground. No wordsin the English tongue have vibrated more deeplyin human hearts than the majestic and exultantavowal of faith with which the Church consignsto the grave the bodies of her dead: Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, inHis wise providence, to take out of this world thesoul of our deceased brothier, we therefore commithis body to the ground; earth to ea
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidfenimorecoopersg00bird
