Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-21
FUNERAL REFORM.
REPORT TO BE MADE TO THE EVAN
GELlCAL ALLIANCE TONIGHT.
Extravagant Expenditures Discounts
nanced, Sermons Discussed. and mnhy
Other Features Considered.

At the last meeting Of the Richmonn
Branch of the Evangelical Alliance. COM
posed of ministers, officers, and members
of the Protestant churches Of the city,
held in the rooms of the Young Mems
Christian Association, the subject ot re-
forms in funerals was considered. 1t was
determined to continue the discussion at
the meeting TO be held tonight In tho
Grace-Street Baptist church, the Rev. DR..
Hatcher pastor.
A committee was appointed TO draft
paper relating 10 some changes proposed
in tho mode of conducting funerals.
TIE REPORT.
The committee consists OF Rev. Drs.
Newton, Cutler, Moser, and Hatcher. with
Rev DR.. Hoeo "a the chairman, and the re-
port adopted is as follows:
/. As TO THE PROPER TINE FOR HOLDING rU-
NERAL sERvICTs.
No fixed rule can determine the proper
day of the week for such solemnitles. ms
must be regulated By circumstances over
which those most interested have no con-
troll. But whenever practical il "a deslra-
ble that they should be held on some otber
dav than the Sabbath for reasons 50 OBJ
yious that they need not be specified.
2. FUNERAL sEEGoas AND ADDEssEs.
Here AGAIN no peremptory rule can be
adopted. Different churches have their
own traditions, sentiments, and customs
in this respect. There are occasions when
the emotion Of sorrow j. so profound ana
universal IN the community as 10 demand
the relief which comes from some
expression Of II. as when as
tinguished Christian soldier, states
man, or philanthropiat is taken
awar. and when the great lesson OF
the life of the departed, by common, con-
sent. NAV be enforced in the pulpit but u
il safe to say that the cultivated moral
sense of the community is less and less IN
svmpathv with funeral discourses. The
uealfns and portions of the Scriptures
which are ordinarily read or sung on such
occasions expressive OF the shortness anu
uncertainty of life cannot be made more
impressive by any words of man, and the
sublime lessons i'll the 18th chapter OF FIRST
Corinthians on the resurrection ana the
life immortal read nor be supplemented
by any human presentation OF the theme.
3. TIE FzPRNs1yKNE5s or FUNERALS.
Here all will probably agree that reforms
are possible, practical, and desirable. we
live at time when the difficulty OF OBJ
tanning employment is increasing with the
increase OF population and Of monOpolleS,
which make the rich richer and the poor
poorer.
A large proportion OF the people are in
strait4ned circumstances. man may or
dinarilv reglIlate his household expenses
according 10 his means Of living, out ne
finds the privilege taken away when death
occurs in the family because OF the pre-
vailing custom winch demands such costly
preparations for the funeral. Many FAM,
" is straitened for months after the funeral
for means of supporting the living because
OF the amount expended III burying tne
dead. This could be best corrected IL the
rich would set the example Of as much
economy in funeral expenses as is con-
sistent with the respect ana love tney
cherish for the departed, and u IS not De-
yond the province Of the pulpit TO urge
denunclatlon OF extravagant dlsplay ae u
time which speaks so lmpresslVely or the
emptiness and vanity of all that is seen
and temporal.
4. COVERING THE FACE OF TIE DEAD.
The coffin which encloses tho remains OF
the deceased should be closed before the
assembling of the company which gathers
Mt the funeral service. The last look and
leave-taking should be in private, and the
friends in attendance should not be sub
iected TO the pain of witnessing the scenes
that so often occur at these sad farewells.
Natural sensitiyeness on the part OF the
bereaved-proper regard for the feelings OF
spectators would seem 10 suggest the pro
priety Of vciling from public observatloh
all that passes ut q moment so dencSteiy
/ personal and sacred.
5. TxFosURE AT THE GRAVE.
/ Since funerals must occur at all seasons
/ of the year. and often when the weather
is most inclement, the question arises.
/ How can dangerous exposure be best
avoided!
TO stand with uncovered head for q
I Quarter or half an hour OH the wet ground,
+ possibly amidst rain and sleet and bitter
wind, subjects tho officiating clergyman
/ and friends of the deceased to unnecessary
discomfort and danger. Some are now
/ sleeping in our cemeteries who would IN
| nil probability be among the living but for
such disregard for the natural laws OF lite.
/ II may be suggested, therefore, that after
! the religious services are concluded, when
/ the weather j. inclement. the company may
/ retire. ONLY those remaining whose duty
and desire il II TO see tho interment pro-
perlv conducted; that the ladies remain IN
/ tnelr carriages, and that none VIII
| be expected to stand with uncovered
/ heads in wintry storms after the prayers
/ are ended, nor even during the prayers If
age or infrmity of any kind makes such
/ exposure hazardous. These are some OF
the suggestions which your committee
make with great respect and Difference TO
/ the customs and opinions OF others. Your
/ committee has no authority to commit the
alliance to any of the changes proposed.
/ The subject is a difficult and delicate one
and everything like dictation is inadmissa-
/ bic.
Only by conference, by mutual agree
ment, by harmony of feeling and action
] cop r.fcrrnl Ia funprals he accomplished.
NOSES ID. IloGE. Chairman.