Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-07-15
Our Burial Customs.


is greatly needed. They are, in the main |
unworthy of an enlightened, Christian
people, besides being oppressive to per-
sons of limited means. The cost of a
funeral is often the tenth part Of a fam
lly's income. Add to this the doctors
bill, cost of medicines, expense of mourn
ing garments, ETC.. and the sum is SWELL
ed sometimes to fourth of the income.
And for what? For any genuine express
sion of grief? No-simply and only in
obedience toatyrant custom that intrudes
itself on the sacredness of sorrow.
A death in the family Of poor man
often adds debt to affiiction. If the
father and sustainer of the house be tax
en-, his sorrowing widow and children are
required by custom to spend on the fu
neral and in mourning an amount of
monty that leaves them too often desti-
tute, or orpinched for means through many
months afterward. All this is wrong.
We are glad to know that great
many persons are beginning to set them
selves in opposition to these customs
No matter how near or how dear the
friend who is removed by death, they
make no parade of grief. There are no
black garments, and no ostentatious fu
neral, with long lines of carriages. Re-
ligious services are held at the house -
but the family do not go to the grave
A hearse and a single carriage, with
friends to see that the body is properly
inferred, make up the funeral procession.
This is sensible, and in the true spirit of
Christianity. The poor, worn-out body
is not the man. 1t only the material
garment which he has laid aside, and out
of which he has risen into immortal life
the material garment, in which decay
and disintegration have already begun.
Let it be put aside tenderly and without
ostentation, and let the sorrowing ones
lift their thoughts away from the tomb
and its dark associations, and up to the
more bright, and beautiful, and happier
world than this, TO which the departed
has gone, To do less is to fall below the
level of a true Christian philosophy.
Let, then, all who are beginning to
think right on this subject, set them
selves bravely against a weak public SEN
timent and do right. The man who acts
independently on any question of social
usage that has common-sense and the
public good on its side, is always respect
ed by those whose opinion is worth any
thing. But we should be brave enough
to live out our true convictions under all
circumstances. Then only are we true
men and true christians.
Since writing the above, we find in the
Philadelphia Press the following excel
lent remarks on the same subject. The
views therein expressed we cordially in
dorse:
"The American New Church Congre-
gational Union, at its recent annual meet
ing in this city, unanimously and en-
phatically condemned the present Gus
toms of society relative to mourning ap-
parel and expensive displays at funerals.
The report of the committee on this
subject, which was adopted without dis
sent, represents in strong language the
absurdity and tyranny of the present
customs. 1t argues, in effect, that the
wearing of black--a color symbolic Of
sorrow and gloom-is not expressive OF
living faith in " the beauty and bright
ness, or even in the reality, of the spirit
, ual world" and signifies want of res
ignation to the dispensations of Provl'
! dence. The report further shows that
both the fashion of wearing mourning
and the custom which makes train oi
) carriages and display of floral tokens
) necessary to the proper observance o.
every burial cermony, are extremely
burdensome to people of small income;
who vet feel compelled to bear the ex
: pense. at whatever sacrifice, rather thai
, incur the imputation of having too little
regard for the relative deceased, and are
f an unnecessary and foolish extravaganza
in all. An appeal is made to the Chris
. tian ministry and to the public press tt
, raise their voices against this growing
evil and call for reform. We mos
+ emphatically and heartily approve o
. this movement, and hope it may succeed
. in checking, if not in entirely doing
!, away. with all extravagant and conspic
nous forms of mourning the dead. 1t
natural that some outward sign shoulC
/. be given that the heart within is depres
sed by the loss of near relative or Low
: ed friend. and the avoidance. for tim
|, both of gaudy dress and gay demeano
! are to be expected. The object shoul'
, he to avert attention, not to court it b
, elaborate and costly apparel OF pecu
!. liar and conspicuous color. As to fun'