Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-22
EXTR4T4G iNCE OF FUNER4Ls.

1t was. very sensible clergyman at Pitts
EuTeh VINO recently read paper upon the eX-
sensible colleagues who adopted his views as
their opinion Mere fashion is nowhere more
hateful than In burying of the dead, and none
the less hateful because it imposes enormous
expenses upon those who cannot afford them
The savings of year are often squandered in
the Idle rstentaion of a funeral. 1t is not un-
natural feeling among the poor that the last
service they can render to a beloved friend
shall not fail in any usual distinction, and the
result Is that living family is often straitened
ny coffin, and be followed by long train of
carriages TO his grave Reform must come
from those who set the fashion," and mod
est simplicity In funerals can be attained only
Dy the example OF those who can afford to be
The worthy undertaken, who lives by the
death of his fellow creatures, is naturally de-
sirous that grief shall be lavishly manifested,
and he encourages to the utmost this SOmbre
splendor. The young American used to be
ana mourning carriages, OF men hired to wear
The garb OF sorrow, and of grief measured by
II ain OF emptiness. Two or three years ago
me movement against this extravaganza began
in England, and it has the public sympathy
and support OF very eminent persons. 1t ha
shown itself in this country by the common re
quest, with the announcement of death, tina
no flowers be sent. A simple and beautiful
tlbute OF affection has grown into an oppreS
slve fashion, and certain flowers have become
OdiOus to many persons from their constant
association with funerals. When such gift
are in truth the offerings of love and sympa
thy, no symbols can be more touching but the
moment they spring from the mere TO ce o
fashionable custom, and are sent to the house
OF mourning as gifts are SentS by &C
qu.lntanceS to a bride, with no more feeling
thap in the leaving of ceremonious visiting
cards, they are touching and significant no
longer The change in the mere fashion
movers upon such occasions can be carried by
inc same good sense into every other funera
e&u aVagance, so that the poor need no longer
ietl that their dead are Sighted if they are not
buried with rulnOuS expense.
there was another suggestion made at Pitts
Dulsh which Is worthy of consideration. 1t
was proposed that funeral sermons as matters
OF course should not be preached and to this
suggestion there will probably be a very gene
raj amen. They are of necessity eulOgieS for
no good hearted preacher would choose such a
tine to tell unpleasant truths. Yet If a man
has been selfish hard, gra>plng, self-indulgent,
SOrdld-and there are such men what is the
poor preacher to do? The well-meaning reply
that every person has something good in him
and The euoglst can speak of that, is cOnclu-
slVe II the preacher is not to give his honest
view OF the character of the dead. But to say
OF man notorious for meanneSS that he went
regularly to church, or of a debauchee that he
gave generously to the poor, is not to tell the
truth, but to dodge it. A change in this habit
however, must spring from the good sense of
the clergyman and the community in which
he lives. And the firStStep toward the change
is ling attention to the subject, as the Pitts
bulgh clergymen have dOne.-[ Editors EuSy
(HOir in HOrDpr'S Mf00zjnP for INN