_Burial towards the West._--The usual posture of the dead is with the feet
eastward, and the head towards the west: the fitting attitude of men who
look for their Lord, "whose name is The East," and who will come to
judgement in the regions of the dawn suddenly. But it was the ancient usage
of the Church that the martyr, the bishop, the saint, and even the priest,
should occupy in their sepulture a position the reverse of the secular
dead, and lie down with their feet westward, and their heads to the rising
sun. The position of the crozier and the cross on ancient sepulchres of the
clergy record and reveal this fact. The doctrine suggested by such a burial
was, that these mighty men which were of old would be honoured with a first
resurrection, and as their Master came on from the east, they were to arise
and to follow the Lamb as He went; insomuch that they, with Him, would
advance to the Judgement of the general multitudes,--the ancients and the
saints which were worthy to judge and reign. Now, Sir, my purpose in this
statement is to elicit, if I may, from your learned readers illustrations
of this distinctive interment.