EVERY WOMAN HER OWN FLOWER GARDENER. 137 



but the pure, transparent glass that shows the twining stems of the 

 flowers, and the ivory white Parian marble, around which the graceful 

 vines will clasp so tenderly. 



Silver and bronze are always beautiful, but a tasteful straw basket, 

 holding a glass dish filled with flowers, will often produce as lovely an 

 effect as the precious metals. 



Flowers in Churches. 



In adorning the Communion Table or the Font with flowers, we 

 should select those that are bright and gorgeous, as such colors were 

 used by the artists of the middle ages, and from time immemorial there 

 has been a symbolism, especially in religious ceremonies and decorations. 

 Red is the symbol of Divine love ; white, of Divine wisdom ; yellow is 

 a symbol of the revelation of the love and wisdom of God ; blue, of 

 Divine eternity and of human immortality. 



Our Puritan forefathers, in fleeing from the persecutions and cere- 

 monies of an established Church, cast from them all outward adorn- 

 ments ; we, of these later days, desire to see our churches adorned with 

 the " Green Things of the Earth," and the practice of adorning our 

 churches with vases and baskets of flowers is becoming quite universal. 

 I hope it will spread, until every little village church can boast of its 

 sweet floral adornments, from the earliest May flowers of the Spring to 

 the crosses and crowns of " Christmas Greens." 



It is but little labor for several ladies in each congregation to agree 

 to furnish the flowers. A large marble " tazza" can be purchased either 

 out of the church funds, or through the benevolence of the rich of the 

 parish. To fill these every Sunday morn with all that is lovely and 

 sweet, cannot but be a work of love. 



I recall a village church which I once attended, whose pulpit was 

 made beautiful with large vases of Roses and Spireas, mingled with the 

 trailing vines of the Money Wort. The old deacon brought them in, 

 with an half-concealed air of pride, and placed them on each side of the 

 pulpit cushion, upon which lay the Bible. His daughter arranged them 

 from the flowers that were in season every week, and he delighted to 

 carry her floral offering to the Lord, and lay it upon His altar. 



" If there is any kind of adornment which more than another seems 

 fitted to God's house, it is that thoughtful use of the ' Green Things 

 of the Earth.'" 



