The New York herald., 1872-09-08

some plan Tor the better conduct OF funerals. Al
clergymen, two Baptists, two Tor three) Mcthodsts
and one Presbyterian; also one undertaken.
me 1OllOwing recommendations were unani
mOusly adopted and published in the CONNER
cidl:-
l. That only the hour for the beginning of the
mneral services be published, and that prOmptness
on the part OF all Is very desirable.
2. That carriage be sent for and placed at the
8. That the position OF the minister, during the
funeral service, be left to his own discretion
., 4. That the selection OF the Lords Day for
The reason for the first recommendation was that
the minister has been notified OF funeral at which
ne was desired to on1ciate next day-say two p.
M.-and when he inquired does that mean that my
carriage will come for me at two o'clockP or
that the service at the house of deceased win
begin at two O'Clock or that the procession viii
move to the cemetery at two O'Clock the messen-
ger could not tell him. Sometimes the minister
has had to wait at the house an hour later than
that announced for the time OF service. and so
has been compelled to disappOint another funeral
at which he could have oaiciated had the first
The reason for the second Recommendation was
that, in many cases, the minister has had to walk
scorching sun to the house OF the deceased, and
when he got there found more than dozen hacks
that had stood there idle twice the time that
any one OF them could have gone for him. The
sending comfortable carriage for the minister
would not have cost the afflicted family one cent
more, ana surely they could not desire the discOm
fort OF one for whom they had sent to comfort them
IN their sorrow. In some cases the carriage was
taken from the minister at the cemetery, and he
compelled to walk home or hasten to another SER
vice impat!ently awaiting his delay. In many cases.
where every one else rode in comfortable carriage
the minister was hustled into an old rickety one
horse shay, which surely Is not respectable
thing to head funeral procession, nor Is 1t re-
spectacle or fair to expose che health of this
man to Injury. l have, along with an Episcopal
brother, rode two miles in the country, through
peltlng sleet and rain, in such miserable vehicle,
was laid up sick for weeks after, while there
were quite large number Of close carriages in the
procession
One of the pastors Of this city was carted about
In common milk wagon to a funeral, the only two
seats In the wagon being occupied by two persons,
who allowed the minister to stand until he took q
camp chair from his own house on which to sit
Now, 1t sounds very nice for selfish to recline
comfortably in line carriage and see such indig.
nifty and mcanness perpetrated on a minister, and
with your .sikeness." Such caricatures were never
drawn by Christ. He taught manliness not mean
ness.
The reason for the third recommendation was
that instead OF the minister having congregation
before him to address, he was placed at the head
an empty stairway to preach to a hatracK II this
position does not seem ludcrous In the extreme, it
would be hard to conceive one that would. Sup
pose you try II some evening, when you invited
TO meet few friends at your nelghbors house,
whom you are to address on some solemn and im.
portant matter. Let them all betake themselves to
their rooms and you take your stand on the stair
and preach to empty nothing.
The fourth recommendation needs no comment.
Now, Mr. Editor, in this condition Of things pecu-
cunar 10 Wllm1ngt0n--a city In other respects
progressive and refned-was there not need for
q reform herep The press Is all the time de-
nouncing ministers because they are not pro-
gressive and reformatory, and no sooner do they
attempt reform than 1t comes down upon them
with coarse abuse, instead Of coming to their aid
This assertion, or course, Is true only OF q small
portion OF the press There are papers that never
print line touching the good name and reputation
OF the Christian minister that Is not heightened and
honorable. Pardon me il place the HERALD high
up in this class
In reply to some of the personalities published
respecting the part took in the matter in question
have only to say that justice to myself compels
me to state that they were neither respectful nor
In the orderly conduct Ol funerals deserved no
more credit than my brethren with whom
merely acted In common, and who did me the
The only aim we had in Offering the recOmmen-
datons here published was to have, at such a
order We feel the great deicacy Of ts sabect u
as we'll we might, for not one OF us but had laid
away our own loved ones In the silent grave. We
conson that Would tenG to preserve
the good order and stiffness OF such sacred place
as the home Of the dead, would be for the consoa-
ton Of the s0rrowing and the comfort of the sympa-
thzng, as we'll as for the respect due the deceased.
And we are willing to trust an intelligent COM
muntty Tor the right appreciation OF our motives
and OF the valuable reforms recommended, and
which we are happy to state have already been in
aueurateo, ana WIN tne most SATISFACTORY results
to all concerned. remain respectfully, &C.,
WILMINGTON, DEL GEORGE Ii. SMYTH.
Ministerial Movements, Changes, SC.
METHODIST.
Rev. DR.. Eddy has gone on missionary tour to
meet the Western Annual Conferences His asso-
ciate, DIR. Dashiel Will leave this city about the
18th instant, on similar mission to the Southwest
ern Conferences. DR.. Reid the other missionary
secretary is already travelling through the West
In the interest OF the Missionary Society, which
these three brethren represent. The General Mis-
sionary Committee OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church are to meet here November IA. The Rev.
James Morrow, OF the Irish Wesleyan Conference,
recently arrived IN this country has been appointed
pelier, VT, to succeed Rev. J. e. W. Coke, elected
Principal OF the Vermont Conference Seminary.
Dr. Il a. vincent editor Oh sunday school
Europe. Rev. DR.. Church, Of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, South, accepts the Presidency Of the
Sullivan, Chaplain OF the Southern Indiana State
Prison, has reached nome from Europe. Rev. John
Luckey, D. D., long chaplain in the State Prison
at his home near Rolla, Mo. On Sunday last. at the
Hanson Place N. e. Church. Brooklyn, the pastor,
Rev. Emory ]. Haynes, just returned from vacation,
received forty candidates into full membership In
connection with the communion service The cor
be laid on September TO- The Rev. William
Mcdonald, of the National Camp Meeting Commit
tee s spending short time in at his home at Auburn.
Of Sheboygan, Wis.,, is visiting ms friends and the
scenes oI his former labOrs in New England. Rev.
ton Highlands, has received the honorary degree
OF d. d. from Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio,
Rev. +. w. Parker writes that in 1861 the
Methodist Church In India numbered 305
Christians, and in 1871 1t numbered 1854, or
about i've hundred per cent increase. The Rev.
Mcssrs Fox and Norton, Methodist missionaries
under appointment for India, left this port on
Wednesday, in the steamer Nevada. At Ruther-
furd Park, Rev. S. p. Hammond, OF Newark Con-
ference, organized, eighteen months ago, a society
of ten persons and began to build church. The
edihce approaches completion, and will be ready
for dedication about the middle OF Septenl-
Der. The health OF the Rev. William Arthur.
the celebrated English Wesleyan, is very deli
cate. Rev. L. NJ. Lewis, President of Arcadia
College, has returned to st. Louis from his
travels in Arkansas. Bishop Marvin reached st.
Louis Mo-, last Thursday on his return from an
episcopal visitation OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church Extension and Missionary Society have
large tent, accommodating 200 persons, In which
they hold services at the foot OF DeIancey street
River Conference, who has been summeriZing In
81. Paul Minn:, has returned to his charge in He