Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-09-06
Bishop Tuttle's Order for his Funeral
From the Tim News.l

curious writings, was request for the
ceremonies at his funeral, which he
wrote August lst, 1859. At that time
Mr.: Tuttle was past fifty years of age
and did not expect to live very long, in
the natural course of human events.
In this expectation the Bishop was dis
appointed as he fingered on until the
early part of the present season. Not
withstanding his request in 1859, the
funeral services were attended with re-
ligious exercises, the Rev. Maurer, pas
tor OF the United Brethren church, at
Benton, officiating. The arrangement
made by the well-known atheist, will
be of interest to large number of our
readers, although the sentiments there
in contained will not be indOrsed by
them, and we therefore give them in
full below:
A PART OF MY LAST WILL AND TESLA
MENT.
l, Daniel Tuttle of the village of Ben
ton, in the county of Crawford and
State of Ohio, in full possession ofall the
mental and intellectual faculties with
which have been endowed by Nature,
and In the enjoyment of bodily health,
ana claiming to be almighty severn
over myself and what | possess in the
world,-l do now, and by these presents,
not in the name of God, or anny other
power, or any other animal, but in the
name of myself, declare the following
to be my last will, in reference to the
disposition of my remains, when
ever am called by death from
earth:-l solemnly enjoin upon all,
| fsinnHc oil. ,ss,t, -.
my affairs, and those who arrange my
funeral ceremonies, not to have any re-
liglous prayers made, in any form, at
any time after or at my death, by any
minister, preacher, or any protesting
Christian. 1t is my will, that some lib
eral minded man be invited to deliver
an address to the people, upon the oc-
casion Of my death, either at my house,
or in some other place; but would not
have man who is member of any
of the existing Christian churches. 1t
is not in my power to name the person,
but such men as Hall, Adams, Swygart,
Jackson, Plants, or Summers, of Buoy
rus, are the men whom would choose.
1t is my will, that the person who may
be requested, or invited, to make the
address, like the gentlemen above
named should be personally acquainted
with me, and my character, and en-
deavor, as far as possible, to gain all
they can learn about me, especially for
the occasion. Whatever faults | prac-
ticed, wish exposed, for the benefit of
the people, and whatever virtues it may
be discovered that I possessed and
acted upon in life, wish to be noticed
according to their merits.
1t is my will, that band, of not less
than six musicians, with their instru-
ments, be invited to attend my funeral
and play an appropriate march, at the
head of the possession, from the house
to the grave, and return from the grave
with music, in the same order, to the
house.
1t is my will that the person who de-
livers my funeral address, shall receive
from those who have charge of my af-
fairs, as a present, the sum of ten dol
lars in cash. will, also, that each mu-
sician shall be paid, as above the sum of
So not as a remuneration for his
services, but to liquidate their necessary
expenses on the occasion. [ would give
them more, but | do not wish to bribe a
show orhire pageant. Myonly object
is, not to make up a programme and
have it filled entirely at the expense of
others. / have no desire to cause q
pompous parade, to excite the curiosity
of the rabble, wound the feelings of
friends, or pander to the bigoted notions
of Christian enemies. 7 leave this as
my will, simply because is it reasonable.
| care not how much vocal music there
may be on this occasion, if the senti-
, Ix11an tc hn rot tinpnl brf T ",
charge my friends to have no fashiona-
BILE religious or Christian praying at my
death and funeral. If there is anything
sacred on earth, tits the will and wish
of person, in reference to the last sad
offices, necessarily entrusted to others,
that it is impossible for him to perform
himself. Whenever I am called from
earth, [ hope to go without the least
enmity or ill will against a single hui
man being, and it is my desire while I
live, thus at all times to feel. 1t is only
the ignorance, the superstition, the in
tolerance, the cruelty, the inhumanity
and hypocricy of men, engendered by
religion, that I have opposed in life,
and this is all that wish to oppose in
death.
L am now past fifty years of age, and,
in the common course of events, cannot
expect many more years of toll on
earth, and whenever the time come, I
trust [ shall meet it with pleasure. I
am not prepared for this event in the
"Orthodox Evangelical" way of pre-
paration, neither do I wish to be; yet I
believe [ am as we'll prepared for it as
any man can be. I have not the least
fear at a Hell, or Devils, or any kind of
torment beyond the grave. I have not
in another world; neither do l dread (as
Christians do) the vengeance of an an
cry God. profess no certain knowl-
edge of the geography or climate, the
manners and customs, or habits and
laws, of the inhabitants or any of the
other spheres, and | know nothing of
the higher planes to which our races are
removed, at the death of the body. IT
is all speculation with me, and it is
nothing but speculation in those who
pretend to know. One thing believe,
and that is, if we exist after leaving the
earth, there is no HE'LL for one kind of
worms, more than there is for another.
Progression is a law of Nature, and lam
inclined to believe that the spirits OF
humanity, in departing from earth, pro-
ceed to higher sphere, more elevated
plane, and a nobler field of action
where the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary are forever at rest.
lnow leave this as part of my last
will, on public record in the Divinity
Physician; and hope and trust, that
those to whom the charge is entrusted