Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-03-08
Funerals.

The Pastors Alliance of this city recently
adopted the following paper on funerals.
Ii largely taken from circular paper
adopted by the pastors Of Richmond and
drafted by committee Of which DR.. Mosea
D. Hoge was chairman:
NO fixed rule can determine the pro-
Uer 0ay of the week for holding funeral ser
vices. This must be regulated by cifcum-
stances over which those most interested
have no control. But whenever practica Die it
is desirable that they should bs Eeld on
some other day than the Sabbath for reasons
so obvious that it 10 strange they should ever
bs asked for The minister's hardest phys
icai labor usually falls on the Sabbath
To tax bin with funeral Is 10 deprive him
of the strength and freshness which ought
to be expended ia preaching the Gospel.
Sunday funerals keep uDderiakeis. hackmep,
&c., from their day Of rest and are often.
times created by love of show rather than
by necessity
2-DffereHt churches bave their own ira
diiors, sentiments, eod customs in respect
TO funeral sermons and addresses There
are occasion when The emotion Of SORROW is
so profound and univer-a in tbs community
as 20 demand the relief which comes from
some exDrt ssion CT II, as when Distinguish
| ed Christian soldier, statesman, or philan.
thIoplst is taken away, and wnen the great
lesson of the life of the departed, by com.
10 IN ccnseut, may be enforced in the pulpit;
Du il is safe to say that the cultivated moral
seuss of the community ia less and less in
sympathy with funeral discourses.
8. al vii! probably agres that reforms
in The sxpensiveness OF funerals are desir
syr H., kol 4 niIt
OF obtaining employment is increasing with
the Increase of population and of monopo
lies, which make the rich richer and the
poor poorer. A large proportion OF the
people are in Strengthened circumstances.
A man may ordinarily regulate his house
hold expenses according to his means of llv
iog. but he fndd the privilege taken away
when death occurs in he family because OF
the prevailing custom which demands such
costly preparations for the funeral. Many
u family is Strengthened for months after
funeral for means of supporting the living
because of the amount expended in bury
ing the dead. This could b. best corrected
if the rich would set the example Of aa much
economy in funeral expenses as is consist.
ent with the respect and love they cherish
for the departed, and tbs not beyond the
province oftbe pulpit to urge denuoclation
OF sxtravsgent display at time which
speaks so impressively CT the emptiness and
vanity of all that is seen and temporal.
4. The coffin which encloses he remains
| OF The deceased should he closed before the
assemblage ofthe company which gathers
at the funeral service. The last look and
| leave taking should be In private, and the
| friends in attendance should not be sub ject-
ed to the pain of witnessing the scenes that
so often occur at these sad iereweils. Nat
urai sensitiveness On the part of the be-
reaved-pFoper regard for the feelings OF
spectntors-would seem to suggest the pro
priety of yelling from public observation all
that pssses ct moment 30 delicately per-
sonal and sacred.
5. Since funerals must occur at all seasons
of the year, and often when the weather
is most inclemept, the question srises, How
can dangerous exposure be best avoided
To stand with uncovered head for quarter
or half sn hour on the wet ground, possibly
amidst rain and aleet aud hitter wind, sub
jeots ne officiating clergyman and friends of
the deceased to unnecessary discomfort and
danger. Some are nov sleeping In our Gem.
eteried who would in all probability be
| among the living but for such disregard for
the natural laws of life. 1t may be suggest.
ed that the ladies remain in their carriages,
aud that none will be expected 10 etand with
uncovered heads in wintry storms after the
prayers are ended. nor even during the
prayers if age OF in6rmity Ct any kind make
such exposure hazardous.