Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-12-31
FUNERAL REFORMATION.
Practical Suggestions to Clergymen
Mourning and Economy.

Mourning and Economy.
OF late there has been a great variety
of reform in the conduct of funerals
both in this country and in England
Most of these have been in the interest
of comfort, economy and common
sense. Much of the costly and absurd
parade which formerly made funerals
odious is now abolished. The old prac-
tice of keeping a corpse for nearly q
week in order to have great demonstra-
ton on Sunday has largely gone out oil
fashion, owing to the decided way in
which the clergy frowned upon it. The
often made frightful inroads ON the
means of the survivors, is now material
ly shortened. Fashion yet compels the
use of the dreadful black clothes. which
have always been recognized as the
millinery of grief, but there is an abate-
ment from the EXTREMIST blackness even
Of these. The custom of sending great
quantities of floral offerings was so
overdone that there has been areaction,
and the business of the florist is seri-
ously damaged in consequence. There
is room for still one more Improvement
in funeral management. That pertains
to the clergyman's part of the services.
To minister at funeral gracefully and
to the edification of the bereaved and
their friends, is one of those arts in
which few ministers excel.
There are some who are just what
they should be in their tender manner,
their touching eloquence, their mag
netic power and their felicitous allu-
sions to the deceased. The ministra-
ton of such man at funeral is a
benediction to all who are present; but
such men are rare. Most clergymen
talk too long or too loud or indulge in
fulsome adulation of the departed, which
must be offensive and painful even to
the closest friends and relations. A
funeral service is one which calls out
the highest and most delicate skill
minister possesses. Whether IN a
church or a private house, there are
sure to be people present whom his or
binary ministrations do not reach.
Their religion may be of some diverse
pattern from his own, or possibly they
have no religion at all. By approach
ing them iudiciously, he may exert
most salutary influence over them. By
scolding at them for not coming to
church or for holding Objectionable
doctrines, he may awaken their most
pronounced opposition, and fail of the
good which he honestly intended to do
them.
At a recent funeral the pastor of the
church to which the afflicted family be-
long was on hand for duty. His princi-
pal exercise was to make an address
about thirty minutes long. Although
standing in the doorway of the parlor of
moderate-size house, this good man
spoke as if from his own pulpit to large
congregation. His voice was as loud,
his tones as oratorical and his gestures
as majestic as if he had 3, 900 people be-
fore HIM. His remarks were theologically
formal and cruelty cold, dwelling much
on how Adam brought sin into the world,
and how through sin came death. After
this man had thoroughly wearied his
hearers, another clergyman offered
prayer, which was in every sense extern
porary. It was crude and cheerless, and
did not seem to aim in any more definite
direction than was indicated by the fire.
quent utterance of the expression: "We
thank thee, o Lord.
What is wanted for real edification at
a funeral is the very reverse of all this.
The Episcopal Church has shown nice
sense of the fitness of things in the use
of its beautiful liturgy. When that has
been gracefully and eloquently read
there is no occasion for vapid remarks,
doctrinal harangues or fustian oratory.
SO with the Catholic service, in which
the prayers are of deep and touching
solemnity. If there must be preaching
and exhortiug at funerals, the work of
those who educate young men for the
ministry should be to teach them so to
speak and to conduct themselves as to
initiate n radical reform in this branch
of ministerial work. - Phitadelphid
Times.