Graveyard

Graveyard
The Matthews Monument at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Crown Me As I Enter the Kingdom

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, 
East Greenville, PA

Mount Peace Odd Fellows Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA


The symbol of the crown found on tombstones can mean several things.  In European cemeteries, the crown by itself could represent someone descended from royalty or a martyr who became a saint.  On this side of the Atlantic, however, a crown by itself usually is a symbol of Christ and the reward of heaven.

Crowns by themselves as funerary symbols appear sparsely in Christian cemeteries, but crowns draped on crosses are more popular.  The saying "No cross, no crown; know cross, know crown" basically means if you suffer and persevere on earth, God will reward you in heaven.  But if you don't....well, ahem.


Nineteenth-century society seemed to cling to the hope of the resurrection, not just for Jesus Christ, but for their loved ones and themselves as well.  The cross and the crown sum up the life and future hopes of a devout Christian.  Some of the examples below are beautifully executed, and at times, the crown and cross will be shown under sun or stars whose light shines down upon them.  Enjoy.

Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV

Glen Dyberry Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

Salem Cemetery, Hamlin, PA

Odd Fellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, PA

Odd Fellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, PA

Immanuel Leidy's Cemetery, Souderton, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Mountain View Cemetery, Sharpsburg, MD
 
Paupack Cemetery, Paupack, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

St. Mark's Lutheran Cemetery, Appenzell, PA

Tannersville Union Cemetery, Tannersville, PA

St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Hilltown, PA

Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV

New Hanover Lutheran Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

Old Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

Old Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

Old Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA
 
Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

Mt. Joy Lutheran Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV

Bruch's Cemetery, Wind Gap, PA

Bruch's Cemetery, Wind Gap, PA

Clouds with Rays Coming Down, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Flourtown, PA

Delaware Water Gap Cemetery, Delaware Water Gap, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Montgomery Baptist Cemetery, Montgomeryville, PA

Mt. Zion Cemetery, Pottsgrove, PA

Mt. Zion Cemetery, Pottsgrove, PA

Mt. Zion Cemetery, Snydersville, PA

Mt. Zion Cemetery, Snydersville, PA

Newtown Cemetery, Newtown, PA

Sassaman's Reformed Cemetery, Sassamansville, PA

Wentz's UCC Cemetery, Worcester, PA

West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA

Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, PA

Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island, NY

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, N
 
I Bore the Cross on Earth, and Wear the Crown in Heaven, Rosedale Cemetery, Montclair, NJ

St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery, Perth Amboy, NJ

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

St. Andrew's UCC Cemetery, Perkasie, PA

Bethel Methodist Cemetery, Bedford Valley, PA

Clinton Center Baptist Cemetery, Clinton, PA

Easton Cemetery, Easton, PA

Forks Cemetery, Stockertown, PA

Zinc Version, Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown, PA

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, PA

Morrisville Cemetery, Morrisville, PA

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Cemetery, Myersville, MD

Nockamixon Union Cemetery, Ferndale, PA

Riegelsville Cemetery, Rieglesville, PA

St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

St. Peter's Tohickon Cemetery, Keelersville, PA

St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Hilltown, PA

No Cross, No Crown, St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Hilltown, PA



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