The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-22
EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
PROPOSED REFORM IN THE CON-
DUCT OF FUNERALS.

The Report of the Special Committee
Adopted-several Able Addresses on the
subject by Members and Laymen-Those
Present.
The monthly meeting Of the Evangelical
Alliance Of this city was held last night at
Grace-sirect Baptist Church, and the re-
port Of the special committee on funeral re-
forms was adopted. Pending the opening
exercises Of the meeting a committee was IN
session in the pastors study. At O'Clock
the committee came out, Rev. DIR. I. ID.
Dashicn taking the chair. The following
ministers were present: DIR. Dashiell, DR..
Lambeth. DIR. W. T.. Hatcher, Dr. Moses ID.
Iloge. DR.. Cross, Rev Messrs. Cole, yudkin,
j. :. Moser, Turnbull, DR.. Robert l.. Kerr
and others.
DIR. Dashiell announced the hymn, "All
Hail the Power Of Jesus Name,' after the
singing Of which Mr.. Cole offered prayer.
DIR. Dashien then read a chapter from the
scriptures. The hymn commencing "ioM
Firm Foundation, le saints OF the l~rd
followed.
OFFICERS ELECTED FOR THE YEAR.
The report Of the committee on n0mina-
tiOne for officers for 1890 was stated 10 be
the first business. by DR.. Dashiell. DR.. Lam
beth. chairman Of the committee, presented
the following report, which was unani-
mOuely adopted: President, Dr. W. r.
Hatcher: Secretary and Treasurer, MI
BENJAMIN Quarles; Nice-Presidents-ke
=. Cannon, Presbyterian; Dr. ;: ;. Lam
botb. Methodist: DIR. W. w. Landrum,
Baptist: Or. j. b. Newton, Episcopal; j.
:. MOser. Lutheran. Board Of Manager
IL. Il. Brooke. Presbyterian; Rev. +. a.
Cole. Christian: Thomas Potts, Episcopal;
Dr. j. W. Anderson, Methodist; III. A.
Brush. Luthcran; Coleman Workman, Bap-
list.
NFw PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
DIR. Kerr and Mr.. Potts were appointed to
conduct Or. Hatcher 90 the chair. lie was
met and cordially received by DR.. Dashiell
i'm "A short but feeling address.
DIR. Hatcher responded in suitable Ian
uaee. lie declared that he looked upon
the Alliance as one OF the ties that bOuhd
the Church i'm bonds Of affection. lie an
uounced that he had a letter from Mr..
Ouarles stating that he could not attend on
account of illness, and on motion Oh Ut.
Lambeth, Mr.. Cole was requested 10 act as
secretary pro tenn.
DIR. Lambeth then said, " it affords me
pleasure 10 turn over the entire amount IN
the treasury"
DIR. Hatcher received it, and looking up
said, more pleasure than treasure, ltseeihs
10 me- DR.. Hatcher then called upon MT.
Watkins for a solo, which was rendered III
pleasing STYLE
TALK ABOUT FUNERALS.
DIR. Hatcher announced that the next
businose WAS the consideration Of the report
of the Committee on Funerals. Of which Dr.
Iooe was chairman. At the request OF Dr.
IlOgc. DR.. Lambeth took the platform ana
read the report Of the committee, which was
published i'm yesterdays TINES.
The char said that he had no doubt that
the meeting, like himself thought the re-
mort SO admirable that il would be hardly
necessary 20 debate il, but he hoped that 1t
would be understood that il was open to
free discussion, speeches to be limited TO
ten minutes.
DIR. Hoge took the floor to compliment DR..
Hatcher and DR.. Dashiell. He also took
occasion 10 say some very nice things about
pr. Lambeth. lie made excuses for DIR.
Newton. who informed him that he approved
the resolutions. but could not be present on
account of "A peremptOry engagement Dit.
Cutler. he believed, was out OF the clly.
DR.. IlOge also thanked the papers FOR the
courteous manner in which they had gwen
the resolutions 10 the public, and the views
presented by the papers IN iurlherance oil
the matter
ON motion Of Rev. Mr.. Judkins, the re-
port was received. lie proceeded at some
pains 10 show the necessity for reform IN
funerals. lie thought the clergy Of Rich
mOnd might adopt the uniform custom OF
asking people. at funerals in bad weather.
10 keep on their hats. lie had adopted u
himself and had been thanked for so doing.
lie believed it also necessary 10 reform IN
the matter of eXtravagant expenses az nun
erals lie thought that il was due 10 Chris
tianity that this be done.
DR.. Dashiell asked if 10 would not be well
for the ministers 20 present the resolutions
TO their various congregations. The clergy
should make the beginning by adopting the
system Of dismssing the audience lmme-
diately after The benedictiOn, and not keep
the crowd until the grave was filled.
PRIDE OF BURTALs.
Mr.. Potts said the pride Of funerals was as
great MS the pride OF parties and balls II
YOU have flowers 10 give, give them 90 the
living; strew them in the pathways of the
living instead Of the dead. He said If fhe
Alliance would create reform in funeral eX-
penses the people would bless them for il.
DR.. Hatcher called DR.. Lambeth to the
chair. and said he was struck with the una
nmity upon the resolutions. II showed that
there was an evil in funerals, and that the
time had come TO correct II. lie said
bee wished he had the report as a
tract. 10 lay il before his people.
There was passion for n0t0rety in
funerals; for conspicuOusness and public
display. This was all wrong. "Iake your
loved dead. bury them quietly and gently;
have the funeral for the family, not for the
public. Don't have public muster and pa
rade over the sacred dead lie said
deadly. vicious. wicked public sentiment
drove bcreavcd people 10 indulge in eXtraYa-
CANT funerals. This ought not to be.
The discussion was further INDUCED in,
i'm the same strain, by Rev. Mr.. Stewart,
Professor IL. II. Harris, Rev. Mr.. Moses and
Dr. Cross.
ON motion of Mr.. Potts, the secretary was
ordered 20 have 1000 copies Of the report
printed. and each church in the city fur
nished its quota, and the minister De re-
quested 10 explain the same 10 his c0ngre-
cation.
DR.. Lambeth moved that a collection be
taken mp 90 deiray the expenses Of printing.
DIR. Hatcher said he knew "his church
would feel offended if the benedicti0n was
pronounced without taking up a collection.
They are too well educated TO allow any
thing like that
II was agreed that the next meeting be
held at Broad-street Methodist Church TO
discuss "lhe Relation Of the sunday-sch00l
TO the Church"
TnE CONSOLIDATION SCHEME.
Action Deferred Untn Next Tuesday
Morning.