At page 266 of the September number of the Monthly you touch on the signification of flowers, quoting from an advertisement from your city paper in reference to colored flowers at funerals. While I believe in sacred things being kept sacred, yet we have to do with these things, and it is well we should be impressed with their true meaning. This leads me to inquire, to what end are all these different designs, and the thousands of dollars spent in flowers in the United States and Canada yearly? There may be some fashion in it, but may we not hope the chief end is a spiritual signification based on our Christian religion, or to shadow forth by outward forms certain truths in the Bible? I find from experience that cultured people chiefly use flowers, both in sorrow and joy, as a silent and practical way of expressing their sympathy in sickness or death, or in love and esteem. But chiefly our work is sacred, as most is funeral work. Taking this for granted the art becomes more dignified. If there be sermons in stones there must be more impressive sermons in these floral designs. For instance, the Cross - re minding us of Him who suffered and died to make an atonement for sin; the Cross, Anchor and Heart - emblematic of Faith, Hope and Charity, the three chief Christian graces.

The Cross and Crown reminding us, without the one is taken up the other cannot be secured; they are combined together. The Shield - reminding us of a spiritual enemy, and we need armor. The Dove - Holy Spirit. The Yoke - one of our Saviour's precepts and examples. The Gates Ajar, and many more. The Wreath - an emblem of eternity, or the Eternal One. The Triangle - the Trinity. The Lamb, the Square and Compass, the three Odd-Fellows' links, all speak in silent language to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

The Son of Man is called the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley; and we are compared to a flower that springs up in the morning, in the evening is cut down. Flowers are also expressive of joy and always understood. Those in the Old World who wished to do honor to their guests arranged flowers in every room as an expression of joy and honor. Especially to the young are they significant, and seem to charm with praises and joy. What emblems of innocence are the white daisy, the white rose bud, the Deutzia gracilis, the double white primrose, etc.; in fact, all ages rejoice in their sweetness and beauty, and all poets have sung their praises.

I understand that flower services are very popular in England, and are becoming a regular feature of Sunday-school work in Canada. The children bring bouquets of choice flowers, presenting them at the Chancel steps of the Episcopal Church. These beautiful offerings are afterwards sent to hospitals, gaols, infirmaries, etc. The address by the Rector usually describes some lesson from the flowers, and so do the following two verses of a hymn from a Church paper :

Great Father bless our simple flowers, God speed the message that we send -

O, may they soothe some patient hours, Tokens of this, the children's Friend.

Flowers are the smiles of God from heaven.

We give in love what love hath given, These roses, children, come to tell

Their tale of thorns and iragrant bloom. How He was pierced that loved you well,

How fragrance can outlive the tomb.

May His sweet patience still be yours. The tender buds are perfect flowers, etc.

Fredericton, N. B.