Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-07-22
BroOkIxn SuiridrS and Sermnrs


Brooklyn Suicides and SermOES.
Quite an excitement was created in our siste-
city last week by an extraordinary suicide, aId
the circumstances that folowedit none morn
lag in ClermOat avenue, near My rtle, was return
ing esriy this week as lsdy residing TO
her own house from sick neighbours, sle
found upon the back piazza her own son, about
twenty years ofage, sitting by the side of young
woman of abou- the same age, and both Of them
dead bottle of prussic acid found near them
at once suegestes The mode BY which these ipdi-
viduais had come TO their end Subsequent in
Vesiigation showed that the young woman was a
wretehed inmate Of a hOuse of il repute in tsis
city, that the young man had been running aller
her some yeas, and that they both we're perso, q
ot dlssoluie habits, and bad chosen TO put an ei
to themselves in this shocking manner.
In consequence Of the father of the Young n,on
refusing 10 receive the dead body Of the womsn
into bis horse, and directing it to be sent 10 the
dead house for exposure, the people IN the neiol-
6orhood bacame highly incensed, and espouscd
her cause in a spirit of chivalry worthy Of he,-
ter object. After the body had been for some
time expUsed and had been visited by great num-
bers Of persons, the inhabitants in the fehbor
hood made the arrangements for its burial with
such demonstrations of respect as would be be-
coming in the cese Of one eminent for moral
worth, and distinguished public services. An ele-
giant coffin was provided and great array Of car
riages and attendants procured The remains
were taken to an Episcopal church by the invita-
ton Of the Rev. Dir. Walker, the rector, who de-
ivered a discourse over the body, some three or
four thousand persons being assembled to witness
the ceremony, and as many of them as possible
thronging the house.
The whole of the proceedings were in iufiniieiy
bad taste, but this Is not the worst Of it. They
were eminently fitted to produce a decidedly i'm
moral influence upon the public mind; and os
such, deserve marked reprobation. Whatever
might have been the feelings Of Indignation on
the part Of the neighbOrhOod against the parents
of the young man-und even this Indignation, SO
far as we are able to Judge, was exceedingly mis-
placed and undeserved--it was altogether wrong
to expend that indignation in paying Lonors to
the remains Of one lost to every principle Of vir-
tue and to every sense Of shame. The most u
initiating part of the performance consisted in the
fact that the ladies' Of Brooklyn, we're the agents
in getting up the obsequies to one Of lheir sex
belonging to a class whom it is not common for
them to treat with any special toxins Of regard.
But even the worst is not yet told The rev
erened gentleman who invited the funeral to his
church, in Pronouneing bis funeral discourse, took
occasion TO make remarks which cannot fail to
produce a mischievous Influence upon The minds
o. these who heard him. He took the ground.
and expressed it in so many words, that although
the young woman had committed a sin Of which
it impossible for her to repent, yet it was not
proper for US TO follow her to the eternal world,
and pronounce upon her condition there. He even
expressed the hope that slthOugh she died by her
own hand in the commission Of sin for which
as he Himself admittet-she had no space to re-
pent, yet she was now safe in the kingd1m Of
God. Such language as this from Jniursassf
clergyman would be consis ent and appropriate;
but how it is possible TO reconsile it with the
doctrine and the duties Of clergyman Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, is more than We
are able 10 see. That church is SO decided on
this subject that, whereas it is distinguished FOR
its charity to the dead. reading its beautiful fun
eral service alike ove- the saint and the sinner.
it posi- lively PROHIBITS its use in tie case of tho
who have committed suicide!
There was passage in the sermon Of Mr..
Walker which shows the spirit with which he
contemplates the idea Of DEATH the grave, and the
future. lie says; "A few years hence, and VIC
shall be sleeping under the little flowers that
bloom on our grave, and under the melodies OF
the little birds that sing in the trees over our
head"
This may DO rery well for funeral rhetoric, and
is only worthy Of mention as a matter Of taste;
but we do protest, in the name Of Christianity,
against such desecraiiOn of the house Of God,
and the solemn funeral occasion as is here eexhib-
tied, when prolessed minister Of the Lord Jesus
Christ takes upon himself to pronounce such eu-
log es over the remains Of suicide, whose ehsr-
acter, under any circumstances, might be passed
over at least in silence; but in this case is to be
mentioned only in the strongest language Of re-
probation. Our youth, on such al occasion as
this, should be warned most emphatically against
the vices which haze led those young people to
| such an untimely and dsgracelul end
We think thai the time has come already when
| the ladies' of the Brooklyn avenues are heartily
ashamed Of the part they have taken in this affair.
We trnst that the future efforts Of the friends Of
viatue in that vicinity, will be exefted 10 repair
! The injury to good morals, which must have been
perpeiraied BY the ceremonies to which we refer.
| IN. Y. Obs.