nches are in
the shadow here, some of them are in the sunlight there, but we are all
united through the Lord Himself. He is the Vine, we are the branches.
Because He is with us here, prayer and praise and all the functions of
the Church are here. Because He is with them in Paradise prayer and
praise and all the functions of the Church go on in Paradise. Every
Sunday as we in our poor way love Him and worship Him and pray to Him
and praise Him, our dear ones beyond are doing the very same. Notice
how in the Communion Service we remind ourselves of the fact.
"Therefore with angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven we
laud and magnify Thy holy name," etc. It is not we alone who feed on
His divine life, it is not the altar on earth alone that communicates
the all-prevailing virtues of the atoning Blood, for the same Victim is
the central object of adoration beyond, as saints and angels and all
redeemed creation are with us taking up together the chorus of that
everlasting hymn.

If we on this side were living closer to our Lord and closer to our
departed, how close might that comradeship become! We should tell our
Lord so much about each other. We should think of each other and
remember each other and sympathize with each other and pray for each
other. Why, we could do everything for each other that we can do on
earth when separated by the Atlantic--except just write home. (Ah, how
one wishes that they could "write home"!) We are very close if we
would but realize it.

"Death hides but it does not divide
Thou art but on Christ's other side,
Thou art with Christ and Christ with me
In Him I still am close to thee."

II

Yes, you say, that is a beautiful thought. But is that all? My poor
heart is craving for more communion than that. Do they know or care
about my love and sorrow to-day? And are they helping me? Are they
praying for me to that dear Lord whom we both love--in whose presence
we both stand to-day? And can I do anything for them on my side in
this "Communion of Saints"?

Section 1

Do they pray for us or help us in any way? Does any one need to ask
that question?

Since they are with Christ of course they pray. The world to come is
the very atmosphere of prayer. St. John in his vision tells of "the
offering of the golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of
the saints" (Rev. v. 8). And again three chapters later the angel
stood to offer the prayers o