The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-09
Regarding FuncrnIS-SOme Sensible Bi
rCcIiOna.


A lew days ago Judge A. II. Dunlevy
died in Warren county, O., and he left be-
hind him the following directions in regard
to the ceremonies to be observed at his
funeral. He had been ut pains to write
them out some time before his death. They
contain good deal Of sound sense:
FiNt--I wish no funeral sermon on that
OCCASION, as there is no authOritysfor it i'll
the Scriptures. By Protestants, it is uni
yeraly admitted to be Of no service 10 the
dead, and vet from long observance, origi-
mating probablyiH Catholic superstition, it
is evident TO me that many who are not
Catholic in profession have the impression,
acknowledgement but secretly INDUCED,
that funeral sermon is in some way bene-
Eciai to the dead, and hence secure such q
sermon for their dead ut any trouble and
inconvenience. Thus think erroneous
views are rcrlcuated, and hopes entertained
thala uncmisermon may contribute to the
wearroi the dead. This, in my view, has q
bsdinhacncc, encouraging hopes anfounded
and leading 10 gross errors i'll relation to re-
lisiOn Hence would prefer that there
b. no funeral sermon ut my death. In case
oi distinguished talents, virtues, or public
service funeral discourse presenting
these as examples worthy OF imitation,
and, therefore, referred to for the good Of
the living, may be well enough, but where
the deceased has done nothing worthy oil
commendati0n or remembrance, such a
sermon is OF no use to the living or dead.
The errors and vices OF the dead are never
presented in funeral sermons rs Il warning
10 the living, and, therefore, q funeral dis
course on their deCease is Of no practical
value to the living, while the too common
practice Of extenuating the fAutts of the
dead, and dwelling with great stress upon
some virtues they may have possessed, goes
far to impress thoughtful minds with the
apprehension that these indiscriminate
Culosics Of the dead, whatever their moral
character produce the impression on many
that there is little difference Mt last in the
moral character Of men, US all seem to be
alike at death. This is an evil which l
think should be avoided.
IN the next place, l wish there to be no
public funeral Mt my deCease. As many
neighboS rs are necessary for my burial
will doubtless attend, and this is all |
would desire, us wish TO be buried us
quietly as is consistent with such an occa'
sion.
would not wish even my children and
grandchildren at o distance should be at
thc trouble OF attending my funeral, as this
would be OF no benefit to them or me, and
would expose them to the dangers and
harlships Of long journey Of no benefit
toany one. But this leave them TO de-
eide iOr themselves, having expressed my
views on the subject.
In the last place, I wish to be buried in
the pIaincst manner, using q common cher.
ry or walnut coffin, and designating my
grave with the pIainest substantial head
stone, with simple engraving OF my name
age, ETC., ms follows:
a. II. Dunlevy, born at Columbus, Ohio
December 81, 1888 Died at -.
These directions may or may not be reat
at my funeral, US my children and friend:
think proper, but my wish is that they bt
substantially observed. a. II. DuSLEvY.