The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-20 00:00:00

FUNERAL AND MOURNING REFORM

The seventh annual meeting of the Church of Eng-
land Funeral and Mourning Reform Association has
been held, at the London Mansion House. In the un-
avoidable absence of the Lord Mayor the Earl of
Dartmouth presided, and he was supported by the
Bishop of Bedford, Canon Erskine Clark, the Rev.
F. Lawrence (hon. secretary), the Rev. Mr. Hill, and
other gentlemen. In opening the proceedings the
secretary read the report. It commenced by stating
the objects of the association which are described as
being "to Christianise, simlify, and cheapen funeral
and mourning ceremonial." It was impossible, the
report declared, to legislate on the subject. What
was wanted was the education of public opinion. The
financial statement showed that the subscriptions and
donations for the past year amounted to a little less
than £200; while, as the expenditure amounted to a
sum still smaller, there was a slight surplus to carry
forward. Funds were urgently needed, and there
could be no doubt that if the association's income
was five times the amount named the good work
which the association did would increase pro-
portionately. In moving the adoption of the report,
the chairman strongly emphasised the soundness of
the principles of the association, and characterised as
absurd the elaborate mappings, plumes, crape bands,
and weepers which had been, and still were in a lesser
degree, present at funerals. He dwelt especially upon
the ill effect which these costly apendages had in con-
nection with the funerals of the rich, as they stimu-
lated emulation among the poor, who entangled them-
selves frequently in financial difficulties in their well-
meaning endeavours to pay honour to departed rela-
tives. Thus the chairman (as well as succeeding
speakers) specially appealed to the rich to observe
their
of
Bedfordfunerals.
suc-
ceeded report moderation
was
o,a simplicity
Lord Dartmouth as chairman of the meeting.
the in
Bishop
The Bishop moved that " It is desirable to promote a
better appreciation of the idea of Christian burial.'
d
He said that the one thing needed at a funeral was a
evout and earnest rendering of the Church service.
Music, and, in a moderate degree, flowers, might be
included; but everything connected with the funeral
itself should be quite plain and simple. Canon Erskine
Clark seconded the resolution, and in the course of his
remarks hinted that the Nonconformists had not shown
themselves particularly alive to the importance of
funeral reform. This led the secretary to read two
letters, which bethought would show Canon Clark that
his remark was not well founded. One was from Mr.
J. Bright, M.P., and the other from Mr. S. Morley,
M.P. Mr. Bright wrote: "One Ash, Rochdale,
Feb. 3, 1885.—Dear Sir,—l heartily approve of your
work, but must ask you to excuse me if I do not
become a regular subscriber to your funds. I send
you a small cheque. As to funerals, our religious
society has always offered a good example to other
sects and churches and to the public. But sects and
churches and the public are slow at learning on this
and some other matters.—Yours very sincerely, JOHN
BRIGHT." Mr. Samuel Morley wrote: "34,
Grosvenor-street, W., June 10, 1885.—Dear Sir,—l
am extremely sorry I cannotattend your meeting. I
am in most hearty sympathy with you. There can
be no doubt that an immense deal of social discom-
fort and suffering is promoted by the present system
at funerals; and I would thankfully co-operate in
any effort to produce a better state of feeling on the
subject. I believe that the public opinion of the
country is thoroughly with you, and that those who
feel most keenly on the subject would most thank-
fully welcome a change that should be generally
adopted. Many who are poor, but exceedingly sensi-
tive, suffer greatly by the present system. I have
great pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £lo.—Yours
truly, S. MORIXT.—Rev. F. Lawrence."
The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the
Bishop of Bedford for presiding.

FOREIGN LIVE STOCK AND FRESH MEAT.—The
fol-
lowing steamers arrived at Liverpool during the past
week with live stock and fresh meat on board, from
American and Canadian ports I lowa, 514 cattle and
940 qrs. of beef; Mentmore, 513 cattle: Lake Superior,
658 cattle; Toronto, 396 cattle; Oxenholme, 455 cattle;
Oranmore, 518 cattle; City of Rome, 1560 qrs. of beef
and 300 carcases of mutton; City of Berlin, 1520 qrs.
of beef and 2:',0 carcases of mutton; Brittannic, 780
qrs. of beef and: 151 carcases of mutton; Cephalonia
1056 qrs. of beef; Baltic, 780 qrs. of beef and 100 car-
casses of mutton; Wisconsin, 2680 qrs. of beef and 510
carcases of mutton; and Iberian, 420 cattle, 1539 qrs.
of beef, and 60 carcases of mutton, making the total
imports 3474 cattle, 10,855 qrs. of beef and 1370 carcases
of mutton, which figures, in comparison with those of
the preceding week, lhow a further increase in the
arrivals of l'oth live stock ezi fresh meat.