A Place for Saints and Sinners

In the Book of John, verse 14:3, the “God’s Word” translation reads:

“If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.”

In the Book of John, verse 8:7. The American Standard 1977 translation reads: 

But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

We try to refrain from throwing stones at Merry Mount because we certainly are not without sin. We hope that we have prepared a place that protects sinners, and we also welcome any saints that may appear on the premises.

As we approach Hallow’s Eve and All Saint’s Day, our attention is drawn wherever we look to ghosts, goblins, and spirits of all kinds-some good, some bad, some Saints, and some sinners, just like us folks who remain alive.  Accounts of spirits returning to earth abound in folklore both on All Saint’s Day and especially on the day before.

“Be silent in that solitude,
Which is not loneliness—for then
The spirits of the dead, who stood
In life before thee, are again
In death around thee, and their will
Shall overshadow thee; be still.”

—From “Spirits of the Dead” by Edgar Allan Poe

Here at Merry Mount, we embrace all spirits that may show themselves.

All Soul’s Night 1917

You heap the logs and try to fill
The little room with words and cheer,
But silent feet are on the hill,
Across the window veiled eyes peer.
The hosts of lovers, young in death,
Go seeking down the world to-night,
Remembering faces, warmth and breath–
And they shall seek till it is light.
Then let the white-flaked logs burn low,
Lest those who drift before the storm
See gladness on our hearth and know
There is no flame can make them warm.

- Hortense King Flexner

On All Saint's Day, if perhaps a few saints arrive, we will welcome them to our table.

The Heavenly Banquet  

I would like to have the men of Heaven in my own house;

with vats of good cheer laid out for them. 

I would like to have the three Mary's, 

their fame is so great.

I would like people from every corner of Heaven.  

I would like them to be cheerful in their drinking.

I would like to have Jesus sitting here among them. 

I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.

I would like to be watching Heaven's family

Drinking it through all eternity.

  -text found in the margin of a 12th Century monk’s manuscript

We hope that we have prepared a place for both saints and sinners.  It is our intent to bring “all” into our presence, so that where we are, you can be also.  In fact, everyday as we go out from here and encounter souls both good and bad, we inevitably bring bits and pieces of their spirits back with us to this place we call Merry Mount.

CPW