Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-05
A Few Words about the Funeral.
BY REV, l.. W. M0REY.

By kENs l.. W MOhE1.
There are some words necessary to be
said in order to help along a slow spread
ing change of custom in regard to the fun
eral. The change has for some time been
on the way TO an established rule of prac
tice, and the better sense of the public has
welcomed it us one of the children of
wisdom. There are many, however, who
still persistently cling to form which is
unnecessary, and many instances, and for
more reasons that we propose to mention.
unwse. The habit for many years was
for the funeral procession to 90 to the
church for the principal service-a habit
which may have begun in some feeling of
necessity or respect, but which is no long
er so regarded. When communities were
small, friends widely scattered, time of
less account and ideas different, there
might have been reason in the practice;
but with changes in the conditions named
as well as others, came the altered and
better sentiment in the case. A funeral
now ought everywhere to cease being a
spectacle. The morid desire which some
manifest to witness through no special re-
spect or concern the details of such scenes
ought to be discountenanced. The tears
of one mourning for the dead are too sac
red to be poured out before a curious
throng which so often measures the depths
of grief by the sob and tear. If the coffin
is taken into the church let it come TO pass
that all the sorrowing ones shall feel that
the home and the closed room of the home
is the place whore most ittingly the last
tear should fall on the face of tho dear
dead. If it becomes understood that the |
house is the only place where the coffin
lid is to be raised then those who desire |
will 90 there. The moment of parting is
too rare Il pearl to be held up before a |
multitude; besides the fact that the part.
ing ear falls most appropriately on the
home altar 1t often happens that the
danger; it has been in some instances al |
most an abomination. But taking the
coffin into the church is not essential
There is usually ample room in the house
and if there is not it will surely be suffic- |
ent for the occasion. If the funeral ser
vice is to be held in the church there is no
reason why it should not be after the |
flowers are cast into the grave and the
friends have cried, "alas, my brother, OF
my sister,
In case of one who has filled large
place in public affairs or public affection,
such precautions are usually taken that
these cases may for an exception to the
ordinary method. There is no reason why
every funeral should call forth set ser.
mon. Gods word is all the word that is |
consoling in such an hour Of atfiction. The
Scripture, the hymn, the prayer and per-
haps few words such as the circumstan-
ces suggest are all that can grace the
sacred and solemn scene. The method of
having the funeral in the church and of
having formal discourse ought to pass
away as has that of having it on Sunday.
Ministers hesitate to say much about these
things for various obvious reasons, and it
should be the part of all to look into the
matter and be judieious.
In some cities the clergy were obliged
to organize against Sunday funerals, unless
absolutely necessary, before the matter
,,.ht Hhn tota. 10 L.
falls largely upon Sunday and funerals
made the burden too heavy.
The old custom of settling the question
as to where the soul has gone and into
what degree of glory has fallen out by its
own weight. 1t surely needs only the
thoughtful attention of the few who cling
to old forms to see that the demands upon
a minister's time and strength are numer
GUS, and that the old requirement is too
great. The average sermon at a funeral
is not peculiarly adapted to the case or
the occasion, and might properly be
preached at any other time as well. The
plea that there are many who hear ser
mon at no other time is poor one.
question the special good gained by
catching at such opportunities or the
wisdom of using the sore hearts that have
come for consolation as u fulcrum on
which the minister is to rest his lever. 1t
is fully time also that the class of people
who seldom hear a sermon, who ignore
the church and have few civil words to
the minister or about him should be led
to see decency Such people are quick to
see the need of Gods servants when their
dead are TO be buried but not so ready to
recognize that such service demands re-
turn.
venture the assertion that the class of
people who pay most for funera. services,
so far from being outside of the church
are wholly within it. No minister per-
forms service for goddess family un-
willingly neither does he perform it with
out feeling that if he is to preach sermon
in their benalf then ought they to come to
the Sunday morning service to hear it.
The church and its servants desire a
higher rever, nee, better recognition. a
better friendship and better support
from the many who share in the peace and
order and morals and kindness which
make sweet the atmosphere of every COM
munity and every home and every heart.
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