The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-12-16
Funeral Of a Tirs. Worshipsr.

ClhtS tbtb u UtNt3 CuN wv itCt'Ni'
a priest ia sent for, who approaches
the bed aud repeats various texts
from the Zend Avesta calculated to
afford consolation to tho dying man
Prayers are also said for the forgive
ness Of his sine. When he dies, u
funeral sermon is preached, exhort.
lug the friends uf the deceased to-
live pure and holy lives that they
may meet him in paradise. They
arc reminded that they must one
day be callod from this world to The
preceuce Of God to give full ac-
count of their deeds here, and as
they do not know how soon that mny
be, they are urged to 10 prepared
for death, and to meet it with resig-
nation and Willingness. Riches,
wealth, influence and friends will
have no avail in the next world.
Those who desire to reach the etorn-
al paradise must spend their daye
hero in holiness and prayer, and in
doing good to their fellow creatures
Tho sermon lasts about an hour
and concludes with tho words, MAY
Cod have mercy on tho deadv
The body is brought down to the
ground floor (wbero it was born),
washed, perfumcd, wrapped in a
white sheet, and placed upon an iron
bier. A dog is brought to gaze at
the dead face Of his master to drive
away evil spirits. Several priests
attend, aud repeat prayers for the
repose OF the soul Of tho departed
aud that it may safely reach its des-
tnation, which it is supposed to do
on the fourth day after death. The
relatives aud friends all bow low in
token of respect, and the Nasasalar
clad in pure white garments (Which
arc always furnished new for every
fuueral), raise the bier and boar the
body from tho house, while the
mourners utter loud cries aud lam
entations Priest in full dress lead
the procession, in which are only the
lpra'g v.lotives and friands of the do
{ ceHseu. .uoJ, '0OJ, 0dro dressed /
whito, and walk two by two, eac
o couple joined by holding whit
= handkerchief between them.
When the bearers reach the patl
b leading to the door Of tho tower
3 they place the bier upon the grouDt
and uncover the face OF the dead
= that the friends may take last look
and all rcverenily bow, after whicl
D the mourners turn back, and ente
one of tho Sagri, and pray for th'
Q departed spirit. The bearers pro
ceed to the tower aud unlocking th
y door, carry the burden within, anC
J.. quickly lay it uncovered in one o
4 the receptacles. In two minute
J. they appear with the empty bier anC
o white sheet, and the door is no soon
= or closed behind them than numer
4 Gus vultures, that have boon sitting
almost motionless in circle on th,
edge Of the parapes swoop dow
0 upon tue body, aud in few minute
! return aud lazily settle themsolve
= again, having left nothing behin(
bat skeleton. The bearers, OF
leaving the tower, proceed to O
building shaped like hugo barrel
where they battle and change theil
polluted funeral gsrb and casting il
aside upon II receptacle of stone pro.
pared for the purpose. None OF
these garments can leave the gardon
lest they carry contamination with
them.
The skeleton Is left to be bleached
and washed by sun and rain, and
when three or four weeks have pass
ed, the same bearers return, and with
gloved hands and instruments like
tongs drop the bones into their last
resting place, the central well.
The peculiar duties Of the Nasasalar
are considered SO inseparable from
defilement that, forming distinct
class, they are compelled to live
quite apart from the rest Of the ON
munity, and as u partial compensa-
tion for their isolation they are liber-
ally paid for their services. -Iidrper's
Bazdr.
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