The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-25
FUNERAL OF A POSITIVIST.

STRANGE DISCOURSE OVER THE CORPSE OF
YOUNG GIRL-No MENTION OF GOD OR THE
CHURCH, BOUQUET or FLOWERS FOE
CROSS.
An extraordinary funera--the nrst Of lie kind tina.
ever happened in this city-,ook place on Thursday
afternoon at No 90 South Fifth avenue the residence
OF Mr. William Tonks, whose daughter Catnarine died
o few days previously OF pneumonia Mr. ronks and
his family belong TO the Positivst faith, which
jects all generally accepted ideas OF
Iigon, all temples Of worship made with human
hands, omts the mention Of the nume
OF God on all OCCASIONS. The Posilivists
havo particular place Of worship, tho whole earth
and heaven being their temple. But they moot and
have dscourscs every Sunday al Science Hall md
addressed different times by such Albert l..
Rawson, tho artist; o. b. rockingham, Henry
Evans, Cortiandt Palmer, Rev. Mr.. Aigcr, Mr. Wake
man ami Rev. Mr.. Abbott Of Boston. Their num-
bers here arc fcw, but In Boston they make quito
respectable figure.
The body OF the young girl lay in q rosewood coffin
a table in the middle Of the room and around IL
were piled flowers In profession rho family rela.
sat the coffin, and tho friends, acQuant
ances strangers ncd tho remainder OF the room.
Cnildron's toys scattered hero and there, and
from tho OF tho furniture and the character
OF the prints and pictures the walls tho family APP
pearod to DO com lortabio conteuted. peculiar
looEng bouquet OF flowers iny upon the coffin I'D and
Was supposed TO be Substitute Tor The Christian
cross
A SINGULAR SERMON
After all had been assembled Mr. Rawson, gentle
mar OF calm, benevolent looks aud with soft svcry
voice, approached the head OF the coffin aud SAID
death was the demand 0, nature and judgment was
tue csut Of the organization Of society. "rho old
faiths, he said, shave transferred judgment to the
clouds, who're u man must go naked and alone, and
there perhaps no might escape tho conseq noes Of
nlonement.
table, but while we certain by experience, or the
relations We have hore on earth we have no
knowledge whatever, founded expert
once. as 10 tho future. SO, then, wo must make
the bcst Of tho present. but yet we deny
nothing and rob OF his hopes. rho
faith emphasizes the idea that judgment must DO
the minds Of mon now and here every man has Two
knowledge of this 10 essential TO the formation OF a
Just judgment Of n man. The spiritual lie Is that
tered by else. The material lilo is that which
he lives with his family, friends aud The world ~
large. The spiritual corresponds 70 inc material RAJ
material the moro we conform TO and act
In harmony win sho laws OF nature shs purcr
aud more vigorous our spiritual nnturc becomes
MAN TO FIND MS HEAVEN nKng.
ssrhe real future OF manKnd on tho earth and not
In tho heavens. society wall yet be hi,od above rs
grosser elements by culture, founded absolute
knowledge, not on guosswork. whom men learn
viii be avoided ana good will como Men commonly
judge by the material or outer ic. The proper way
to Judge 70 consider the conditions Of society, the
selves IN his place. Every mans character
is determined by ideals, AMI these ideals
make up ns inner or spiritual lie. one
oil tho most vital passages IN tho scripture 10 the state
meat Of Jesus, 'rhe kinsaom Of heaven 10 within
you. The iul realization OF the Copernican system
OF philosophy brushes away belief Ia the Christian
heaven, for where II possibly DO locatedf Hoaven
ana he'll are hero on earth and cacn man may elect
for himself which he shall nave Our saints arc al
ways with US and the nrst In the calendar 10 our
mother, then father, wife, children, irisnds. We
dread no ghosts, for know OF no hereafter
from which II would DO possible Tor them 10 come
This young life hero which mas just been taken away
will have for iss effect TO draw the rest of the family
closer together In st creator bonds OF love and tho
tear Of regret viii dry IN The reflection OF 'ho IN
evtablc late that awaits all "
Here the speaker took up the peculiar bouquet
already alluded TO aud SAID that this vas TO take
the place Of the Christian cross. The outer rim
Of green leaves, he said, represented the Turn
Ing OF nature at this season besides IMPLYING
perpetual memory and ever frcsh remcin
bsaDoe. The row OF purple flowers Indicated inc
earth wheroon men pass their iIvos aud draw their
sussenance and WIS also asymbol Of science. The