The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-07-25
About Funeral Sermons.

The action of the Ministers Association Of
Utica, n Y, in resolving that its members
shall preach no more sermons at funerals, but
that such sermons will subsequently be de-
livered in church if desired by the friends of
the deceased, is naturally attracting much at
teution and causing no little comment. The
press have taken up the subject and are dis
cussng it from various standpoints. 1t would
seem that this question is of sufficient impor-
tance to call for action by the duly constitu-
ted ecclesiastical bodies of the several large
denominations Of the country, if it be deem
ed proper to revolutionze prevailing customs
Probably nine of every ten intelligent men
and women have their "opinon" of the
average funeral sermon, and almost every one
who has ever given any thought at all to the
subject has again and again asked himself the
question "What good is attained by these
sermons over the dead ?" Whatever the
preacher may have to say of the departed
can be of no possible interest or benefit (save
in exceptional cases) to any one but the i'm
mediate relatives and friends of the dead,
and in nine hundred and ninety. nine cases in
every thousand, these friends and relatives
already know great deal more of the vir-
tues and vices, of the good or the bad quail
ties of character, that mark the career of the
dead one. Besides, funeral sermons are not
supposed to give thoughtful and impartial
biographical sketch of the deceased. The ca
ses where this could be done without giving
objectionable offense to the friends are so
rare that they may scarcely be said to exist
But, some will argue, that the minister
may be able to say something that will cheer
and comfort the sorrowng. Very true, but
could he not do thar more effectively and
with much more propriety at the home of the
bereaved The average funeral sermon is
very frequently made the subject of severe
but just criticism. Too frequently the min.
lister INDUCES in high-soundng phrases of a
life which the community know to have been
covered all over with the meanest and lowest
vices thst deprave humanity We firmly be-
lieve that if there were means of ascertain
ing the views Of the clergy of the various de-
nominations on this subject, nine tenths of
them would declare against the continuation
of the practice of preaching sermons at fu-
nerals. No right minded person would, we
think object to proper religious services when
the dead are consigned to their last resting
place, but such services should not embrace
Except in rare cases. long dissertations on the
life and character of the departed. Those
present to hear such sermons usually
know a great deal more on those points than
the minister can tell them, and are quick to
note and comment on any deviation from the
truth.
In our judgment the Ministers Association
of Utica have inaugurated wise and needed
reform, and it is to be hoped that it will not
long be confined to that association. 1t is
worthy, at least of serious discussion by Con-
terences, Presbyteries, Synods and other &c.
clesiastical bodies of the various religious de-
nominations. s.-PottsrWe Chronicle.