same feeling that adorned the magnificent tombs of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.  These subterranean apartments were used for religious meetings in the first centuries of our era, and it is generally supposed that they were chosen as safe hiding-places from persecution.  Very likely it was so; but it is not improbable that the spot had peculiar attractions to worshippers, from the feeling that they were in the midst of an unseen congregation, whose bodies were buried there.  If it was so, it would be but one of many proofs that the early Christians mixed with their new religion many of the traditions and ceremonies of their forefathers, who had been educated in other forms of faith.  Even in our own time, threads of these ancient traditions are more or less visible through the whole warp and woof of our literature and our customs.  Many of the tombs in the Cemetery of Pere la Chaise have pretty upper apartments.  On the anniversary of the death of those buried beneath, friends and relatives carry thither flowers and garlands.  Women often spend the entire day there, and parties of friends assemble to partake of a picnic repast.

Most of the ancient nations annually observed a day in honor of the Souls of Ancestors.  This naturally grew out of the custom of meeting in tombs to commemorate the death of relatives.  As generations passed away, it was unavoidable that many of the very old sepulchres should be seldom or never visited.  Still it was believed that the “shades” even of remote ancestors hovered about their descendants and were cognizant of their doings.  It was impossible to observe separately the anniversaries of departed millions, and therefore a day was set apart for religious ceremonies in honor of all ancestors.  Hindoo and Chinese families have from time immemorial consecrated such days; and the Romans observed a similar anniversary under the name of Parentalia.

Christians retained this ancient custom, but it took a new coloring from their peculiar circumstances.  The ties of the church were substituted for ties of kindred.  Its members were considered spiritual fathers and brothers, and there was an annual festival in honor of spiritual ancestors.  The forms greatly resembled those of the Roman Parentalia.  The gathering-place was usually at the tomb of some celebrated martyr, or in some chapel consecrated to his memory.  Crowds of people came from all quarters to implore the spirits of the martyrs to send them favorable seasons, good crops, healthy children, etc., just as the old Romans had been accustomed to invoke the names of their ancestors for similar blessings.  Prayers were repeated, hymns sung, and offerings presented to the church, as aforetime to the gods.  A great banquet was prepared, and wine was drunk to the souls of the martyrs so freely that complete intoxication was common.  In view of this and other excesses, the pious among the bishops exerted their influence to abolish the custom.  But it was so intertwined with the traditional faith of the populace, and so gratifying to their social propensities, that it was a long time before it could be suppressed.  A vestige of the old anniversaries in honor of the Souls of Ancestors remains in the Catholic Church under the name of All-Souls’ Day.