Sermon

Character and Conduct – 12 September – Crossing the Bar

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Character and Conduct – 12 September – Crossing the Bar

IF the immediate life after death be only sleep, and the spirit between this life and the next should be folded like a flower in a night slumber, then the remembrance of the past might remain, as the smell and colour do in the sleeping flower;  and in that case the memory of our love would last as true, and would live pure and whole within the spirit of my friend until after it was unfolded at the breaking of the morn, when the sleep was over.

Tennyson—a Memoir, by his Son

LIFE!   I know not what thou art, 

But know that thou and I must part;

And when, or how, or where we met, 

I own to me’s a secret yet.

Life! we have been long together,

Through pleasant and through cloudy weather;

‘Tis hard to part when friends are dear;

Perhaps ’twill cost a sigh, a tear;-

Then steal away, give little warning,

Choose thine own time;

Say not Good Night, but in some brighter clime

Bid me Good Morning!

A. L. BARBAULD

    oooOOOooo

    These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

    Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

    In her preface Whishaw writes:

    ‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

    It is my hope in publishing them here readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.

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