Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-10-06
DON'T HAVE STRONG COFFINS.
Advice OF the Rev. Mr.. Lawrence, OF
the English BurIa! Reform go

Advice OF the Rev. Mr.. Lawrence, Of
cIety.
Rev. +. Lawrence, Vicar Of Weston, York,
England who arrived In this country about
fortnight ago. preached at Grace Chapel in
East Fourteenth street yesterday morning
on the subject OF Burial Reform" taking as
bis text "And Aaron shall be gathered to
his fathers" He said: "Tbe text does not
mean that Aarou's body was to be gathered
TO his fathers, but he himself, apart from
bis mortal body, which after death is the
worn-out fetter which the soul
Has broken and cast nway.
''Many who, TO all intents and purposes,
don't believe In the continuity OF life after
death, spend their powers for this life. and
live this life unconscious " the eternity TO
which they rightly belong. To such the
mortal body Is the chief concern, and hence
a materislism which bears evil fruit not
only in this life but after death. The body
which has received inordinstc regard In life
receives undue and improper attention
when dead, and out Of this arise many OF
the evil. which have gathered around our
mode OF dsposing of the dead. The body Is
retain ed too long unbured. whereby the last
recollection OF the ineffable beauty which Is
the Characteristic Of the deceased Is marred,
aud the body suffers an indignIty from which
It should be spared. Ouly those whose
iweling-p place consists Of one room know
how great Is the evil.
THE body 10 pl ICED in q strong durable
collin OF wood or lead-sometirnes expensive
iy mounted and upholstered as il IL were H.
tended for use In daily lic-in which the body
generates poisonous gases aud fluids.
Thus not ONLY are the dead dealt with ir-
revereniiy, but disregard is had to the public
welfare. Ohe part OF cemetery Is filed with
vault, tenanted In pcrpetuitr. while in aE.
other part Overcrowdinx fouls the water
spriugs p0sons the soil and gives rse to
emanations which, il not themselves the
causes OF disease are yet instrumental iu in
crcas.ng their vitality.
''TLere is an expenditure often out of all
proportion 10 the means Of the bereaved aud
generally In wrong direction. aud this ex-
pence is often incurred while the body iiseIf
is denied proper burial, the body being either
dishonOred by nominal burial In a solid cOtiln
where II Is shut out from natural influences,
or d!shonored by imperfect burial amidst
other bodies In an already crowded gr.ve
There Is much unnecessary show, oftca In the
worst possible taste.
THE remedy lies in right views of life and
death, OF the relation OF the body to the true
personality, and OF the b0nor due to the hui
man body. The Christian has hardly begun
10 live when that happens to him which Is
called death. lie himself is then gathered to
his people, into higher sphere of existence.
having nothing further, now or hereafter, to
do with the earthly coruptib!e body In Its
present condition, which lie has laid down,
aud which has now lis own functions to per.
form 10 the great c,cle OF nature.
THE bOly will therefore, be laid into tho
earth as soon as signs OF dissolution appeal,
and this as complete as decency and rever-
ence permit. And the burial will b. in earth
sufficient aud su table forthe resolution ofthe
body into 1t, constitu ut elements. in accord
ance with the law Of The land which ass gus
six II. OF earth. And. instead OF family vault
or mausolcum, there will bc family plot KEEP,
as small garden, wherein the dead are bu.
ried side b. side. In the frAilest possible cask-
et the earth being ready, generation by gen.
Grafton, to receive the dead Of that same fam.
iy for oil time to come. Aud to the dead OF
the very poor will he given tue honor which IL
due-esrlh sufficient, with no Overcrowding.
"A cemetery thu, used would not BE- an ac-
emulation OF human remains IN every stage
Of arrested and prolonged decay, too vast for
earth aud air to purfr and disintegrate. but
place where tho dead, unOb,tructed By that
which retards dissolution, pass away imper-
ccpttbly, to the harm oil none, and leave the
earth ready to perform It's benfcicut action
again."-.Nep York World.