The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-07

I,Sices OF minister in sickness and death,
and many of the people who now stand
aloot from the Church will begin 70
think seriously Of what common oecencV
REQUIRES them to do. And if they want
Christian burial for themselves or those
who are dear TO them they should no
more think Of calling on the minister Oh
parish to which they do not belong 10
perform the service without comPensa-
lion. or at least Acknowledgement, tnan
thev shonld expect the services OF a
physician without paying Tor him.
REASONS AGAINST SUCH FEES.
Now rich non-parishoner o. any
church ought to pay for such clerical
services as he receives, whether Tor mar
risge or burial. But since be does not
belong to any parsl he must o. neces'l y
cslI unon An outsider tC render such ser
vices. And as custom already secures
payment for marriage services TINS sug-
gestion. if adopted, will demand 1t for
funeral services. Why may it not 1t not
be extended to baptismS, also to 1.-THE
churchIng of women" 20 confirmation,
to church delicatlons and TO all the
other acts OF bishops or presoyters IN any
of our cuurcnes2 AID carrying TINS
thir y to.its logical conclusion we shall
by and by sec the CnrirUan religion the
cost.iest thing under The sun, as II Is now
proved to be the cheNpest. We shall
nave tina, which began =. selt-abnegation
and sacrifice for others, veal thing of
harter ar d trade At so ISuch an hour or
so much mile. Can ne churches OF
this land or of Chrlstetdom afford to
place themselves in thisf posi:ion2 Can
the ministers of the Gospel afford Tor
ANY sum thus agreed upon to place
themselves and the truths when they
preach on such a mercenary basisf The
bond that exists already between the
ministry and the masses of men IS slen-
der enough, and easily broken. A wnlte
cravst, long coat, and straight collar
do not pass for 80 much now as they ala
a century ago. There was time when
.clergvmen were demigods in the view
OF the masses; but the widely dl1used Ia
telligence of this day has shown them TO
be men OF ike passions with olher men
And in many quarters a claim to cburch
membership Is SIMPLY an additional
reason why the person making the claim
should be more closely watched II,
then, Christianity is to have special
class of men Cevoted to teaching 1t, they
must, if they would be successful, not
change the basis on which It's fouhder
establs ned it-love-and make II money.
FUNERAL E1TR \yAGANCE AND DISPLAY.
But here in this connection an eIe-
menl enters into the discussion Whlch
mas often appeared slone-nsmeIy, dis
MAY and costliness of funerals. Some
has been made within Il
lew wears in this regard; but there Is
room for much more. In recent SER
mon one OF the Paulist Fathers OF this
city made this 3 subject for remark.
4 ter referring to the sanctity OF the
body as the temple OF the spirit and the
regard in which the Catholic Church
holds il IN death on this account, he con-
demred the display of earthly vanity
and pride which is seen at so many fun
erals, and which only defles that which
is holy and outrages that which Is decent.
In place OF the simple shroud or the holy
habit which used TO be considered the
proper raiment Of the departed, we now
see them arrayed in garments which vie
IN extravaganza and fashion with those
of the theatre and the ballroom. 1t
shocks one to think OF those Christian
dead VINO 20 down to the tomb decked
out in lks and lace ard satins and
trinkets, as though they were rather the
votarles of earth than the heirs OF the
kingdom of Heaven The Master seems
to be standing by and saying, "Give
place" Again, what al abuse 1t Is to
see body followed to the grave by
train of carriages, which would often be
more than enough for the funeral OF
cardinal or a popel What some one
has called 'the eternal fitness of things
requires that something OF public display
should be made over those whom Goo
has set in authority but to make such
display over any ordinary Christian Is
supply absurd. But, alas? those hul-
dred carriages and two hundred hor-
ses sColhe pride Tar more than they COM
fort the poor soul.
This discussion Is healthtul and ought
to lead to some practical results.