Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-28
Funerals.

The Pastors Alliance of Alexandria re-
Gently adopted the following paper on
funerals. 1t is largely taken from Gil
cular paper adopted by the pastors of
Richmond and drafted by a committee OF
which Dr.. Moses D. Hoge was chairman:
/. No fixed rule can determine the pro-
per day of the week for holding funeral
services. This must be regulated by cir
cumstanceS over which those most interest
ed have no control. But whenever practi-
cable it is desirable that they should be
held on some other day than the Sabbath
for reasons so obvious that it is strange
they should ever be asked for. The min
listers hardest physical labor usually falls
on the Sabbath. To tax him with a fune-
raj is to deprive him of the strength and
freshness which ought to be expended in
preaching the Gospel. Sunday funerals
keep undertakers, hackmen, &C., from
their day of rest and are oftentimes created
by love of show rather than by necessity.
2. Different churches have their own
traditions, sentiments, and customs in
respect to funeral sermons and addresses.
There are occasions when the emotion of
sorrow is so profound and universal in the
community as to demand the relief which
comes from some expression OF It, as when
a distinguished Christian soldier, states,
man, OF philanthropist is taken away, and
when the great lesson of the life OF the
departed by common consent, may be en-
forced in the pulpit; but it is safe to say
that the cultivated moral sense OF the
community is less and less in sympathy
with funeral discourses.
s. All will probably agree that reforms
in the expensiveness of funerals are desir-
able We live at a time when the difficult
ty of obtaining employment is increasing
with the increase of population and Of mo-
nopolies, which make the rich richer and
the poor poorer. A large proportion OF
the people are in Strengthened circumstan-
household expenses according to his means
of living, but he finds the privilege taken
away when death occurs in the family be-
cause of the prevailing custom which de-
mands such costly preparations for the
funeral. Many family, is Strengthened
supporting the living because OF the
amount expended in burying. the dead.
This could be best corrected if the rich
would set the example OF as much econo-
my in funeral expenses as Is consistent
with the respect and love they cherish for
the departed, and it is not beyond the prov
ince of the pulpit to urge Remuneration
of eXtravagant display at a time which
speaks so impressively of the emptiness
and vanity Of all that is seen and temporal.
4. The coffin which encloses the remains
of the deceased should be closed before the
aSSGmDlago OF Tile company WHlCll Sdtu6lo
at the funeral service. The last look and
leave-taking should be in private, and the
friends in attendance should not be sub
ieated to the pain of witnessing the scenes
that so often occur at these sad fareWells.
Natural sensitiveness on the part OF the be-
reaved-proper regard for the feelings of
spectators-Would seem to suggest the pro-
priety of yelling from public observation
all that passes at a moment so dellcately
personal and sacred.
5. 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 quarter OF half an hour on the
wet ground, possibly amidst rain and sleet
and bitter wind, subjects the officiating
clergyman and friends of the deceased to
unnecessary discomfort and danger. Some
are now sleeping in our cemeteries who
would in all probability be among the liv:-
ing but for such disregard for the natural
laws of life 1t may be suggested that the
ladies remain in their carriages, and that
none will be expected to stand with I'M
covered heads in wintry storms after the
PRAYERS are ended, nor even during the
prayers if age or infrmity of any kind
make such exposure hazardous.