The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-01-16
"why lhIs waste,
These noddIng plumes, and this ado
About a areas that's fallen into deca.

ABOUT n carcass thais talen into decay f"eNE
During the month Of November last, a large pub
lie meeting was held in Sydney. with the object Of
forming a Funeral Reform Association. Al this
meeting a general committee was appointed, which
in turn elected from among its members a sub
committee to draft a basis Of association. After
After a long and careful consideration, the following
rules met with general approval, and we're finally
adopted @saas
THAT, with the object of doing away with the
unnecessary expense and pomp which have gradu-
ally Become a part Of our funeral and mourning
customs, much to the injury Of many who cannot
afford TO follow n fashion which respect for their lost
ones makes it all but impossible for them to break
throughg we, whose. names are beret8 affixed, do
hereby constitute ourselves into an association, 10
be called the Funeral Reform Association and
bind ourselves TO adhere Ms closely AS may be 20 the
spirit of the following regulations: That the coffin
be free of, adOrnment, bearing only the inscription
plate or emblem OF faith. That no pail be used.
That neither scarfs nor hatbaDds be worn. nor gloves
be provided; neither sballtbere be mo,es nor plume
bearers. That the hearse or carriage ia which the
body may be conveyed be as plain 10 possible and
devoid OF decoration; that the horses wear neither
cloths, plumes, nor other trappings; and that, in
lieu Of mourning coaches for the conveyance Of the
mourners and bearers, ordinary vehicles be en-
ployed. That the heaTse or carriage, and other car
riages, move at n somewhat quicker pace than the
ordinary walk That faBeral professions from pri-
Vate residences be discontinued; that monrners, other
than relatives, meet at the mortuary or burial
ground; and that no notices Of funerals appear in
the public prints. That, inasmuch as the present
fashion Of mourning Is costly. inconvenient, and nm
healthy, and is only attainable by very many Mt too
great a Sacrifices, the following shall be considered as
proper and respectful dress for mouFDeTs, viz. for
males, the dress ordinarily worn, with the addition
Of q black band round the hat, or left arm, or both;
for females, the ordinary dress, whatever its colour,
with the addition Of one band Of black Grape on the
left arm for a friend, two bands for a relative, and
three bands for a husband; and, for outdoor wear,
a black veil, having one, two, or three folds upon IL.
according to relationship" "
This desirable reform, which was first mOoted in
Adelaide. and has since extended to New South Wales,
is likely to be followed up generally throughout the
Colonies. II is not at all improbable that a move
ment SO reasonable may soon be considered worthy OF
imitation in the old country, and thence be carried
to America.
The widow will not have to mourn the longer for
the loss of her husband in that she has not been beg
CARED in consigning his remains to the dust from
which be sprung, nor the daughter for Der parent.
Burial customs are not only too costly, but the cost
in many instances is hard to bear. Debt but adds to
the intensity Of a bereavement through death, and 1t
is we'll to move in abOlishing q custom which the in
~telligence Of the age now looks upon as q funeral
show, invested with so many pOmps and v~anites.