The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-20
GATHERING OF GRAVE MEN.
The Annual Convention of the State
Association of Funeral Directors.
The Luxury of Employing an Honorable Fu-
neral Director-The Ideas of Professionals
on the Most Approved Burial Forms.

The Indiana Association of Funeral Directors
began its sixth annual meeting in Wrights Hal
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, with about
eighty members present The officers were al
re elected. Q. g. Davis, of Williamsburg, is
president, S. r. Lippincott, of Richmond, secre
tary, and F. w. Flanner of this city, treasurer.
The president, in his annual report, reviewed
the work of the association. and discussed the
propriety of the adoption of q ritual to
be used as a service in the burial
of the dead, when no other ceremonies
are to be held, as form to be
used in burying members of the association.
He thought that no such ritual was necessary,
as there were very few, If any, of the members
who did not belong either to some secret So
ciety or a church, which have rituals of their
own, and if there were any such in the associ-
alton, he thought that they should lose no time
in joining one or the other. In referring to the
Importance of upright demeanor on the part of
the undertakers, he said: I'VE should dis
charge our duties upon right principles and
make our calling reputable one, that those
calling for our services may feel we are ne
cessitv, and, might add luxury indeed; as
orable funeral director to bury the dead"
The treasurer, Mr. F. W. Flanner, of this city
reported the receipts for the year at 1885, In a
friendly spirit he criticised the secretary for
spending so large an amount for printing and
reported deficit The secretary, Mr.. Lippin-
colt, of Richmond, said that since the organiza-
ton five years ago, 152 members have been en-
rolled, but that only lis were now active mem
bers. In reply to the criticism OF Mr.. Flanner
on the amount spent for printing he said that
a he lowest l.
BILE figure, and. although the bills bad been quite
large, he thought that the results had more
than repaired all the cost The printed
reports had been sent to over 600 funeral
directors during the last year, and many had
taken an interest in the society. OF these,
twenty-five had just been admitted to member
ship, making the total number one hundred and
thirty seven. The initiation fee of these new
members would more than repay the expense of
this meeting, and If the thirty members who
were delinquent had paid up. there would have
been no deficit. Most of the delinquents at once
paid their dues
At the afternoon session long letter was read
from j. Fl. Clarke, of Springfield, o., recount
ing his efforts in organizing local associations in
Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, and describing
the crude methods employed in some places.
The letter was ordered printed in the annual re-
port
Mr.. Moona from the committee appointed last
year on ritual. said that the committee had not
son, they had not drafted one, but he presented
forms to be used instead committee was APP
pointed to consider his recommendations, and
report at the session this morning.
Mr.. Thomas Glidden, editor of the Casket,
published at Rochester, N. Y, read quite
lengthy paper, reviewing the work of undertak-
ing and modes of burial from the earliest times
and the progress made in the. business up to the
present In the earlier ages only kings could
affordto be buried with monument to mark
their resting places They were emoalned, and
some, as in Egypt had vast monuments erected
to their memory. After ages the coffin came
into use few could be buried in either plain
metallic or wooden boxes, which were without
lining or decoration There are now seventy
FIVE large coffin factories in the United States
The paper was ordered printed
The following committees were appointed: On
grievances, Fl. r. Downing, T. D. Morris aud
j. c. Pettier; executive committee, Dexter Gard
ner, S. r, Lippincort and w. Fl. Smith; on Gre
dentials, G. c. Shaffer, NJ. L. Meeks and VIM.
Schultz.
After discussion as to the best manner of
preparing bodies for shipment, where the person
has died of contagious disease, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved That the use of the antiseptic rubber in
tsrment sack as required by our State Board Of
Health falls far short of the perfection that claimed
for it. and its should be discouraged by all funeral
directors
In the discussion on the resolution. Mr.. Elan
ner said that, under the provisions of the present
law, nothing else could be used. Mr.. Lippincott
denounced it as money making scheme of the
Goodyear Rubber Company, who have monop-
oily in the manufacture of the sack. Mr.. Elan
ner read the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That committee of three be appointed
to wait on the State Board of Health and request
modification of the present law in regard to the prep
aration of bodies fer shipment.
Resolved, That we heartily CONCUR in the idea of
danger in shipping bodies which infected with
contagious diseases, and will do all in power to
enforce proper laws this subject and will ship all
such bodies in metallic copper zinc receptaces
but that all nonnfection bodies when shipped, if
companied by certificate from the undertaken that
such body has been properly embalmed by the under
taker such certificate shall be accepted guarantee
metallic zinc or copper receptacle.
f. w. Fanner. James Renihan and Charles
e. Kregelo were appointed n committee to
present the resolutions to the Board of Health,
and try to effect the desired changes
Mr.. w. O. Zieger. of Peoria, Ill, then talked
on the BEST Modes of Embalming." illustrating
his subject by colored charts. after which the
meeting adjourned to 10 o'clock this morning