The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-04-21
FUNERALS.
A Reform IN Their Management
Needed.

| A Reform IN Their Management
| Needed.
The extravagant cost of funerals, is
eliciting inquiry as to remedy, and
the Inter Ocean publishes the follow
ing notice Of meeting in Chicago
among clergymen regarding the
trouble, which strikes as commence
ment of reform in the right quarter
AN interesting discussion, and one
which touches theme calling for re.
view and reform. originated at late
conference of the Methodist pastors
of this city. The subject referred to
was Funerals. The ministers con-
| sidered the topic with special refer
ence to the desirability of a change in
| the conduct of burial services gener-
| ally. 1t was held that funerals as at
present carried on were expensive In
the extreme. This point was illus
trated by numerous incidents where
fashion had so far obtained control of
even such affairs that the effects of a
respectable funeral were expert
enced long after its occurrence. The
. ordinary funeral involves an expendi-
ture of from $50 to 800, while that
| which is grade or more removed
from this is proportionately higher.
The time occupied in the discharge of
these last sad rites is not mentioned,
as being not a matter for consideration
in this connection. It was from the
standpoints of opulence and Indulgence
that the subject was canvassed, and
among the remedies suggested to
break down fashion that is neither
Christian nor cultivating was the fol-
lowing: It is proposed, first, to begin
with this reform in the churches
Each religious body is more or less a
center from which almost all classes
in the community radiate. Let a
number of the leading societies in
augurate this movement by having
vaults built in some convenient and
safe portion of the edifice. These can
be constructed. say under the tower,
or in some other part equally appro-
pirate, and composed of the same ma
terials as are such apartments in our
cemeteries. They can be so erected
as to offend neither taste nor devotion,
which should not be forgotten. espe-
cially in the incipiency of reform
like this. The funeral services may
be held either at the residence OF the
deceased or at the church. The diff
ference in the character Of the SER
vices would not be material, if notice
able In the event of the funeral
being held at the church, the remains
are quietly conveyed from the home
to the church, where the burial SER
vice is held. The casket is deposited
in the vault, the friends are dismissed,
and in few days, or few weeks at
most, the body is removed without
display or Ostentation to the cemetery.
This simple service will dispense with
all needless expense for carriage hire,
show, ETC., and will do away with that
which is often strain on the purse
strings of those who are least able to
bear it. The Rev. DIR. Edwards, the
Rev. DIR. Tiffany, and the Rev. NJ. Nj.
Parkhurst were chosen a committee
to consult with the pastors of the
various Protestant churches in the
city as to the ACCESSIBILITY of such an
effort and the best means of reaching
it.
Mr. John Ingle, living near Benton
vile, had $3.50 in money, gold watch
and some clothing stolen from his
residence Sunday night, April 4th.
His pants were taken from his bed |
where he slept.
The psychologists who assert that it |
is impossible for a man to live hun
dred years, will have to surrender. |
The Count Waldeck, of Paris, is now |
one hundred and nine years old, and |
lively, at that Possibly the fact that |
he draws pension from the French |
has something to do with |
his tenacity. Pensioners are proverbi-
ally tough ones.
They tried to blow up saloon at
last week. It was done with
like torpedo at II o'clock
At night. A great many people went |
there next morning to take look at
The ruins.
A Rockford man came home late
one night from the club" and raved
around with a shot gun because the
servant wodld not let him into his
Sife's chamber, because there was
Ha't two o' hoars sre Old Whsn oa she has
band learned how the matter was, he
offered to trade his gun for diminu-
i've carriage with three wheels.
Thirty years ago Mr.. Stephen Crit
iths who lately died in Illinois, prom
sed the Almighty that if he would
prevent a decline in the price of beef
md pork, thus averting a heavy loss
IN his stock on hand, he would de-
vote to His cause all that he might
thereafter make above living. Prices
lid not decline, and when Mr.. Crit
iths came to die he kept his word.
lonating to churches, missions. and
:ract societies his property-s15O, 600.
His heirs are now striving to break
he will in Mclean county on the
ground Ct insanity.