River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-04-12
A STRANGE FUNERAL.
A Husband oniciates as Minister at
the Obsequies OF His Wife.

the Obsequiss OF His Wife.
Not many weeks since gentleman
we'll known in Cincinnati lost his wife
by consumption. A simple announce
ment was made in the newspapers when
she died, but no notice was given as to
when the funeral would take place. It
seems that il was omitted at the special
request of his wife, often made before her
demise, as she only desired her most in
innate friends to attend that ceremony.
She said she had horror Of her house
being crowded with people upon such an
occasion, who really cared little or moth
ing for her. She only wanted certain
ones present whom she knew we'll, and
whom she felt sure would regret her
death, and these were notified to at
tend Mt particular hour on given day.
This departure from the usual custom
vas hardly made more conspicuous than
that of her husband officiating in the
place ola minister, which WAS also done
at his wife's request. After the friends
assembled 10 the number of twenty-hy
or thirty, the husband, who was sitting
beside her coffin, with head bowed in
grief upon it, rose up and delivered the
following address:
DEAR FRENps: 1t was the dying re-
quest ct my dear companion that no min
ister should be called upon 70 otiiciate
at her obsequies, butth | should speak
il few works 10 her special friends who
would be invited to;be present. need not
say that DO SO with reluctance, and can
hardly find words to express my sorrow
and grief ut the loss have sustained by
her death. This request was not made
by her because of want of faith in relig-
ion or in holy things, but simply because
neither OF MS was a member OF any
Christian church, aud have not been in
the habit of attending religious services,
and we knew no minister upon whom
We could call, and she did not think il
meet or proper, under the circumstances,
To have some one come here and deliver
q sermon who did not know her.
| need not tell you that Clara was a
faithful wife and a loving mother, and
that she possessed every trait of char
acter necessary TO constitute her child
Of God. She made no professions of re-
ligion. but she showed by her daily life
and walk that her every impulse was
pure and good | never saw her turn
the needy away from her door without
a Gift. and l never heard her speak
lightly of her friends. She made her
home her palace, and she was always
the happiest when she was surprising
me with some special manifestation of
her love. She has gone to her reward,
and if ! can train up our little
daughter to follow in the footsteps of her
mother | shall have accomplished my
mission upon earth The flower of earth
shall ever bloom in my memory, and
whether | live long or die soon, her
sweet influence will follow me to my
grave. | can scarcely realize that she
whom love SO passionately now lies
within the narrow confines OF this cof-
fin and that shall never agcln hear her
voice or see her at the window on my
return home, giving me welcome such
as was as her custom. But though she
has gone never to return, her influence
will be felt, and viii be as enduring as
life itself
You will all please come forward, and
take last farewell, after which we VIII
sing her iayorite hymn:
would not live Away,
/ ask not to stay"
gentleman who was present and
witnessed the proceedings says they
were exceedingly impressive, the ladies'
being especially demonstralve IN their
grief The singing was led by u partieu-
lar lady friend, who also played the or
gan.
The funeral may be regarded as a de-
cided new departure. and it would not
be surprising if others followed the ex-
ample. Cincinnati Enquirer.