Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-08-29
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III. Hinyth, |
10 he Editof Of he Oommeroial'
viii you do me the favor to insert the follow
ing in your paper
Just before leaving on my vacation attended
3 meeting OF the ministers and undertakers or
this CITY, called together for the purpose OF az
ranging some plan for the better conduct OF
| funerals, At that meeting there were present
two Episcopal clergymen, two Baptists, two lor
three) Methodists, and one Presbyterian also
one Undertaken.
The following recommendations we're unani-
mously adopted and published in the CONNER
cIAL
/. That only the hour for the beginning of the
| Funeral Services be published; and that prompt
ness on the part of all is very desirable.
O. That carriage be sent for and placed at
the service Of the Minister. -'t .t'-
| g. That the position of the Minister, during
the Funeral Service, be left to his own dsere-
/ ton.
| A. That the selection of the Lords Day for
| Funerals be discouraged
The reason for the fiji Ut recommendation was
that the minister has been notified OF afunerh at
which he was desired to oflioiate next day say
LAP. NJ. - and when he inquired does that mean
that my carriage will come for me at o'clock
or that the service at the house of deceased will
| begin at o'clock or that the procession will
move to the cemetery at o'clock the messen-
ger could not tell hun Sometimes the minister
has had to wait at the house an hour later than
| that announced for the time OF service, and 30
has been compelled to dlsappoint at other fnner-
al at which he could nave oficated had the first
funeral service begun promptly at the hour.
The reason for the second recommendation
was that, in many cases. the minister has had
to walk couple of miles through pelting
| storm, under a scorching sun, to the house OF
tle deceased, and when he got there found more
chan dozen hacks that had stood there idle
twice the time that any one of them could have
gone for him. The sending comfortable car
riage for the minister would not have cost the
| afflicted family one cent more, and surely they
| could not desire the discomfort of one for whom
| they had sent to comfort them in their s1irow.
In some cases the carriage was taken from the
minister al the cemetery, and he compelled to
| walk home or hasten to another service. impa-
ieutly awaiting his delay. In many cases, where
every one else rode in a comfortable carriage, the
! minister was hustled into an old rickety one
horse shay, which surely is lot a respectable
thing to head a funeral procession, nor is it
respectable or fair to expose the health Of this
man to his Jury. have, along with an Epis-
cOpa brother, rode two miles in the country,
through peltng sleet and rain, in such a mis-
cradle vehicle, till was laid up sick for weeks
: after, while there we're qnite large number Of
close carriages in the procession.
One Of the pastors OF this city was carted
about in a common milk wagon to funeral, the
only two seats in the wagon being occupied by
two persons, who allowed the minister to stand
until he took camp chair from his own house
ON which to sit. Now, il sounds very nice for 4
| selfish man to recne comfortably in hne car
4 riage and see such indignity and meanness per.
| petrated on minister, and call 1t humility
: | and "Christ- likeness Away with yOur like
. ness" Such earieatures were never drawn by
Christ He taught nldnliness, not nlednneSs.
The reason for the third recommendation was
chat, instead Of the minister having a cnngrega-
= tion before him to address, he pla ed at the
e head of an empty stairway to preach to a hat
e | rack II this position does not seem ludicrous
in the extreme, it would be hard to conceive one
e that would Suppose you try it, some evening,
e when you are invited to meet few friends. at
/ your neighbours house, whom you are to address
on some solemn and important matter. Let
them all betake themselves to their rooms and
). | vOu take your stand on the stair and preach to
: | empty nothing
: The fourth recommendation needs COM
] ment.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in this condition OF things pc
: = | culiar to Wilmington--a city in other respects
{ progressive and refned-was there not need for
" " reform herei The press is all the time de
- | nounclng ministers because they are not pro-
, gressve and reformHtory and no sooner do they
"a | attempt reform than it comes down upon them
: with course abuse, instead Of coming to theii
" aid. This assertion, Of course, ia true only OF
: a small portion of the press. There papert
! that never print a line, touching the good name
y and reputation of the Christian minister that is
. not high toned and honorable. Pardon me if ]
: place the Commercial high up in this class.
- - In reply to some of the personalities published
'' tlon have only to say that justice to myself
compels me to state that they we're neither re
Mt spectful or truthful. For whatever reform ha
r. been effected in the orderly conduct of funerals
by deserved more credit thai
1t. my brethren with whom l merel
n acted in common, and who did me tn
n, honor of making me Chairman of their meeting
at The only aim we had in Offering the recommen
n dations here published was to have, at such
lg solemn time, " all things done decently and il
If order" We feel the great delicacy Of the sui
8 ject, as well we might for not one Of MS but ha
aid away our own loved ones in the silent grave
es We believed every thing that would prevent ia
g, and confusion-eyery thing that would tend
,r preserve the good order and stiffness of such
ed sacred place the home of the dead-woud b
" for the consolation OF the sorrowing and tn
of comfort OF the sympsthizing, as well as for til
IT, respect due to the deceased
H. And We willing to trust an intelligent con
mt muuty for the right appreciation OF our motive,
I'm and Of the valuable reforms recommended, an
re which we are happy to state have already bee
on inaugurated and with the most satisfactory r.
es suits to all concerned.
en- remain respectfully, &c.
GEo. II. SMYTH.