, 1875-11-21
REFORM IN FUNERALS.


oughness which promises important results.
Both in Church and out of Church, the ques.
ton Of reform in funerals is being discussed
very warmly. At the recent meeting Of the
Church Congress at Stoke-on-Trent, IN entire
dny's session was occupied with q discussion
| of this kind, in which nearly all the promi-
nent English clergy1nen spoke in favor Of a
more rigid economy in funerals and return
| to the simplicity of other times. The Rev.
| DR.. COILS, of Stratford-on-Avon, read o
| very lively paper upon the subject, in which
he advocAted not only the cheaper ing, but
also the Christianizing of funerals. Hs pre-
sented the following rather picturesque pro-
test against the average English funeral:
Tho present funeral cerenony was MOI, It was be-.
leved more than 100 years old, and why, therefore,
should We Keep 1t up II It Of hoary and
erabe antiquity What for instance WAS the use Of
mutas, except TINT both in grammar anu at funerals
ty invariably suggested the constantly accompanying
"Hqu1ds ~ What was tho use Of pages, except that
they suggested pages OF ledger the ites of which
should have to pay for7 What w2s the recondito
myptery OF dingy black velvet horse-trappinga?
"Optat ephsppia bos.' said HORACE, but why should
the poor innocent horses be made GuyBn Of? What
lar number, and why Yhite, black, or both? And
why WAS set OF punes sometimes carried by page
boy triangular tea-tray in front Of the coffin
Why too they put the horses and the hearae7
The type Of funerals, moreover, no7er varied. and
they were as hldeousl5 ugly as they 100 years
aRo. Taa 1t not time to change this costly, this
Pagan ugliness, for something more ohristian7
The Rev. Co111s' plan was to do away
with plumes, trappings, hired mourners,
mutes, pages, and all other attendants, as
savoring of worldly pomps and vnnities to
have the clergymen head the procession with
cross or crucifx; to adopt the walking
funeral, and that MI persons attending should
be dressed in simple, modest mourning at-
tire; and that the people should be indoc-
trinated with the notion that simplicity was
not shabbiness, and that economy was no
dishonor to the dead" Mr. BEREsFonn
HopE, Member Of Parliament, who has been
an advocate Of funeral reform for many
years: seconded the recommendations Of AIr.
Coils by urging TINT the people should look
to the Church for their funerals as much as
for their baptisms md marriages. The Earl.
OF SHREWSBURY gave very practical turn to
the discussion by informing the Congress that
be had directed in his will that he should he
buried at no great expense from
economical motives, but because there
were so many other and better ways
Of spending money benefcially in be-
half Of the Church. The discussion in
the Church Congress evidently inspired Mr.
JOHN BR1GHT also to express his views upon
the subject in letter to Mr. GEORGE PHIL
11pPs, Of Birmingh ham, and, as all of Mr.
BR1GH1's views are peculiarly marked by
sound, practical common sense, and always
tend towards the use of simplicity and
economy in matters of everyday life as well |
as in political affairs, they will undoubtedly
exercise widespread influence in the adop- |
tion of the proposed reforms. In his letter
he discourages display Of every description,
and advocates the general adoption of the /
funeral customs OF the Quakers (of which !
Society he Is q member), and especially the |
Quaker practice of dscarding black as an en-
blem Of mourning.
It is healthy sign that this discussion has |
taken such q wide range in England. The
same necessity for reform exists in this coun-
try as in England, although in less degree,
as our funeral practices are not carried to
that extreme Of display which characterizes
the English funeral We have no hired
mourners, mutes, or pages, no variegated
happings or plumes carried upon til
angular tea-trays. Nevertheless, fashion
makes itself manifest in equally frivolous
ways, and involves an expense witha which
sby no means frivolous. Itperhaps will be i'm
possible ever to convince the majority of people
that the adoption Of dismal, lugubrious black
is really more suggestive Of despair than Of
grief, invests the life Of the survivor and the
memory of the departed with the feeling Of.
:emediless woe, and banishes every suggestion
II cheerfulness. But is it not in the nature
If frivolty and mockery when fashion not
alone dictates the wearing Of complete black
It the outset, and then, as time passes on,
grades the shading of dress down to a
'lack-edged handkerchief Or blsck-1ined col
Al, and, as the last glaam Of sorrow fades
way, expresses the last regret On: blaok-
'ordered envelope or black k-feathered FAM?
Se L. Il