Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-21
FUNERAL OF 4 sPIsIrUALIST,
Address Of Robert Dale Oven
Over Eis Wife's Remains -Ex-
traordinary Funeral Tunes =
What of Immortality
From the New Harmony Register.

From the New Harmony Registerl
Her funeral was early on Sunday morn
ing Last, the weather being most beautiful
and the ceremonies we're conducted at the
grave.
FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
They we're opened by Mr.. Oven himself
He said:
II think it q com msadsbls eustom that,
as 10 funeral ceremonies, the wishes OF the
departed on that subject should rs far As
possible, be carried out whsn these wishes
are knoER. Daring Mrs. Owens Llluess
Ghe said nothing in regard 10 her fanersl.
BatsOme two or three months ago 1t caan eed
as men say, though there Is no such
thing as chance, but It happened thai u
wife and had CONVERSATION on funerals
She said she would not wish TO have any
bell tollsd at her funeral, especially If there
was any sickness near Sac thought SICK
persons sometimes suffered by hearing 1t,
and she aid not wish her death to be tie
occasion OF gloom or suffering OF any kiad
Music, she said, she thought fitting music,
serious and appropriate indeed, bat also
hopeful and encouraging, with nothing Of
the Responding and sepulchral about 1t ; for
gloom seemed 70 her most inappropriate
And what about a funeral sermon ?" !
asked. ''No.' shs replied, "Doi 40 ordinary
funeral sermon for these usually contain
unmeAning and often uumerised praise. But
] should like, she added. that some One,
who has the same IDEAS Of dsAh that | huve
would express tnem a. the grave III this
was said incidentally, and think without
the least ioes in her mind that might soon
have to recall II; for she was in perfect
health at the time and being more than
ten wears her senior, expected TO 20 before
her; bat IL was otherwise ordered. Then /
sought to fulfil her wishes. requested that
the bell should not be tolled, there being at
the time 9 lady-s dear friend of hers
seriously Ill at my houss. Then | selecte d
Rs suitable for music on such sn occasion
~ this poem by MIRA. Sto we, entitled The
Other World, aud / had feW copies PRINT
ed for distribution here. They were dis
trIbsutsd accordingly, and Mr.. Owen Tesum-
ed. Some friends have kindly volunteered
TO aid IA They will now sing = portion OF
that ode. Afterwards I shall endsAvoF to
ssyA few words on the subject of death.
Then We will sing the remaining portion OF
Mrs. Stoves beautiful verses. And after
wards, If my esteemed friends, the Rev. Nj.
Mitchell and the Raw Mr.. Erwin-one or
both-desire TO speak, | Am quite sure you
will hear them with pleasure"
The singing was conducted by Mrs. Bella
Golden; Mrs ChHs. A Psrke, Miss Louiss
Duclos, and Mr.. j. ohm ID Jones, several other
persons joining in. Then Mr. Owen said no
article OF belief moral or religious, Seems
TO me as important a. the assurance of i'm
morally. You remember the text: At
there be no resurrection Of the dead. then
Ia Christ not risen, and if Christ be not rlsen
then your faith il vSin. Few deny this
but comparatively few feel any absolute GER
tAinty about it Even the most earnest and
devout Christian sometimea admits boW
wAvering faith often is. Mr.. Owen then re-
lated conversations which be had on the
subject ~ one time with a well-known Pres
bytsriAn clergyman OF NV York, At another
time With Au Episcopal bishop. The for
mer, . wealthy man, declared to Mr.. Owen.
who had been saying to him that he (Mr.
O"eu,l did not believe more Gmly IN the
existence Of the visible world than he did
IN that Of the invisb ls-thst he THE clar Ry-
man would give half what he was worth 10
the world 10 De .nla IN s.v ,bs ,.ma
thing. The latter stated 40 NJ O-an ,h.,
assisting at the deNth-b oF an go &c..
%A"-cs Psrfsc. e1emplsr, tbreaSb Uy :
long me Of usefulness, in faith and oonSuc.
and the oeDveraAsion turning on the e sv;'
dsncss OF future state, the diving nm w
claimed "Ah, hishon- " s@-
proof 1--we only had l." Then NJ One the
resumed: II do not beussn ar wen
speak also for her whose den,.. nu mere s.I
among us We mourn today Do ~, rom
more firmly in these trees that so.o.S Se ~
shade over us, in this hill on which ~ .ne y
in those sepulchurSl monuments, wS;oS ~
sec around rs here, than l do that hDm.,
life, once granted, perishes never more.
death change there is, often terrible TO wi,
ness. leaving US behind desolate and 70,
saken for few years on earth, butno death
We never 20 down TO the grave. We car
not be confined within the tomb. 1t is
oast-otf gArment-sAcred,- indeed, as a.
sacred ell mementoes which memory COZ
ueots with those we have loved and lost
bat yet it Is only oast ofgarment, encOi
6ued, to which are paid the rites Of sepu
turs. She bslived, as believe, that tn
enc nS succeeds tbs other wiShout lnserVI