The New York herald., 1879-12-18


prosperity did not lead him astray tempt him into
the uncertain paths OF speculation. As he began SO
he continued and not only did not misfortune over
take him but his business grew in importance year
after year. At the present time Funch, Edye
Co. is probably the largest house ia thus eiiy Gu
gagged in the German, Norwegian and Italian snip
ping trade. But Mr.. Funch did not eonnne
his labors as merchant to his own counting room.
Few men in South or Broad street manifestoo
livelier interest in everything that could advance
the welfare of the port Of New YORK, ana ne was
always active in promoting every scheme that prom
ised to develop aud extend American commerce. He
was a member OF the Chamber or Commerce anu OK
the Produce Exchange ana althSagh a".nc no. was
largely felt in both OF these Important conHercis
bodies. He was besides a director III the uerMan-
American Bank for number of years and in other
moneyed insti tutions In works OF cnefity lMr-
lunch was also exceedingly active, and he was
contributing membcf or NUMBER OF cnaritaoie 30
cieties. 1000 gCr.t
In view OF the unusual, not to say remarkable,
provisions in Mr.. Funch's will. Herald reporter
called Yesterday upon Mr. Henry Nolckmann. OF No.
81 Broad street. who is named of the executors
Mr. yolckmann was found ut work in his Office. but
while receiving the reporter courteousy and show
ing disposition to afford all the information IN his
power in regard TO Mr.. Funchs career merchant.
he very much averse to discussion of the ques-
tion of cremation "If done at all. he said it will
be done in Europe. cannot even say whether Mr..
Funch's wishes in this respect will be complied
with--his son, brother and sister will decide. We
intend sending the remains to them. and then they
..what led Mr.. Funch to insert the instructions
respecting incineration In his wiilY' the reporter
asked.
while he desired his body to be cremated. he was
the burning OF Baron Won Palms body that Mr..
Funch did not want anything to be known in regard
to the disposal Ot his body except in business cir
ces think the HERALD had better say nothing
about it,
..Was he member Of the Theosophical Society. or
had he any views touching cremation as opposed to
busial?" the reporter again ventured to ask.
shrug was the reply, and it was plain that Mr..
volckmann not going to explain why Christian
Frederick Funch desired that his remains should be
burned before they were buried. ,i.
RELIGIOUS CONNECTIONS.
The Rev. Mr.. Krotel. of No. 40 West Twenty FIRST
street. pastor Of the Lutheran Church OF the Holy
Trinity in Twenty-frst street. who performed the
he was not acquainted with the deceased during his
lifetime but that he had heard good deal about
him since his death. Mr.. Funch. he said not
q member OF the church of which he is pastor. but
number of his most intimate friends are members
ne MR. Krotel had consented conduct the funeral
services in his church, as IL was not convenient to
hold them ut the club house in which he died. Mr..
Funch was Lutheran by religion, and although he
had no church connection in this country he was
active in religious work here ana took an especial
sailors in Brooklyn frequently. II not regularly at
tending service there and aiding the church with ad-
vances and gifts of money. 1t Is said that In his
estate is included mortgage on the Brooklyn
church property.
Mr. Krotell said that Mr.. Funch had for q con-
siderable time been in the habit of talking freely
with his friends concerning the advantages Of
nation over burial and had expressed his intention
of having his own remains cremated. 1t seems that
at the time when considerable movement in favor
of cremation was made in New York some five or
years ago, Mr.. Funch became greatly interested
in the subject and after considering it for some
time had become thoroughly converted to belief
in the advantages Of cremation. He had never. SO
far is known. wavered in this belief. but on the
contrary was confirmed in it by what he saw and
heard during his sojourn in Europe In 1878. While
there he visited Milan and either heard
discussion of the subject or witnessed some of the
cremations. which are frequently performed there
and when he returned to this country his mind was
sti fully determined in favor of this method
Of dsposinR of human remains.
A SURPRISE HIS FRIENDS.
This fact it seemed, was not fully understood by
his friends for Mr. Kroell says that at the time Of
the funeral Mr. Mosle one Of the executors came to
him and asked If he had heard that Mr.. Funch had
left directions that his body be cremated. adding
that he had learned after Mr. Funchs DEATH that he
was one of the executors and had taken hasty
glance at the will and been surprised at finding the
provision referred to in the will Mr. Krotell said
was. even on hearing this, that 1t was merely the
expression of preference. which it would be wise
As % to the attitude Of the Lutheran Church on the
subject. Mr. KroteH said that the Church had never
defined Its position a's Inc subject @ sad never come
of opinion. 1t certainly was not. SO far of the
tenets Of the Church were concerned. matter OF
doctrine or belief and he did not that 1t could
well be SO as nothing was said in the Scriptures
which could be taken as guide to belief on such
subject. As to its conflicting in any way with
belief in the resurrection of the body. Mr.. Krotell
said with o quiet smile that he hardly thought that
point could be maintained. Too many persons were
burned to death and their bodies consumed in burn
ing buildings in the ordinary course of
events for the believers In resurrection
of the body to make any point agafnst cremation
in that respect. He thought. however, that IL the
question OF cremation should como up before the
Lutheran Church in any way 1t would be condemned
very generally several groands. In the first place
the traditions and associations connected with burial
too many and too sacred to be lightly set aside.
Burial was and had been from the early ages Of the
Church, the custom OF Chrstendom. and IL was
custom which Lutherans among others would be
the custom Of Christians from the earliest days of
the Church and one of the principal ways in which
they had drawn o sharp distinction between their
own customs and those Of the heather. Any adop-
tion of cremation would be looked upon generally in
sort Of stepping back into heathenism.
And this thought would perhaps be intensified by the
fact that among the persons who undertook to In.
openly opposed to Christianity.
GERMAN CLUB.
At the German Club. at No. 15 West Twenty-fourth
street. the members generally were unwilling to
talk about their late associate to representative of
the press. 1t was learned. however. that Mr..
Funch had lived there both before his last visit
Europe and since his return. he occupied rooms in
building and occasionally dned there. but spent
ances outside. lie was highly esteemed and warmly
liked by his fellow members, and all of them were
more or less surprised to learn that what they had
been to look upon pleasantly on the part of
their friend sober earnest. "He has often said
herein the club" said one of the members. hat he
intended TO have his body cremated, and has even
gone so far as say that he had put in his will
directions to that effect but all supposed it was
a Joke. Cremation has been discussed here occa-
sionaliy, and we have all heard him say this. but
none OF us imagined that he was in earnest"
A SINGULAR RUMoR
It rumored last night that the body cremated
in Washington, Pa, on Tuesday. as announced IN
despatch to the HERALD, was that of Mr.. Funch.
This was denied last night by Mr.. Mosley, who
stated that the remains resting in the receiving
vault Of the Lutheran Cemetery in Second avenue.
despatch from Mr. Funch's son in Oldenburg, Ger
many has ordered the body to be sent to Milan.
Italy. The following despatch was received last
night
WASHINGTON Pa, Doc. II. 1879.
The body cremated yesterday not that of Charles
Funch merchant of your city The who brought
pastor Of fnwood Presbyterian Church New York. and
said to be the brother of the deceased.
THE LATE BARON DE PALM
On Sunday, the 2sth of May. 1876. what the HERALD
characterized queer funeral" took place at the
Masonic Temple. in Twenty-thrd street. Tho hall
was crowded in the afternoon with curious throng
of spectators. and their object to witness the
CO erenonial preceding the cremation OF the body OF