Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-12-26
Funeral Reform.

The following paper was prepared
bv a committee, submitted to the Min
isterial Association of this place.
adopted, and handed to the JOURNAL
for publication
Your committee on funeral reform beg leave
to submit the following report, which they
suggest be read by each pastor to his congre-
CATION with such additional remarks as he
may deem proper:
The members of the Ministerial Association
of Frostburg believing that some needed re-
form should be made in the manner of con-
Quoting funerals in our town venture to
recommend few.
LIST, Funerals would be more in keeping
with the christian religion in its simplicity
and unobtrusiveness, if attended with less
pomp and display They should not be os-
tentatious exhibitions to the world. Let
friends minister to the living-to man When
sick and suffering and not hope to make up
for some neglect by a handsome offering OF
flowers.
3D. There should be less expense attending
"a funeral. The poor can ill afford it and art
often made to appear dishonest by owing a
debt they never can pay, or are hampered foi
years in endeavorng to pay it. The rich are
not benefited by tinse and show. and though
they can afford it. should set others an ex-
ample of good taste. Each man makes his
own record during life. large procession
and beautiful coffin lead not to heaven MOI
,holC back from hell. The rivalry to equal
or Guido someone else is exceedingly I'M
christian, and yet we ask uot that anything
be omitted which promotes decency and rev.
erence or properly symbolizes the teachings
and consultations of our most holy religion.
Sd, We earnestly protest in the name of
good health, and to protect the private grief
of the mourners, against opening the coffin
in church to view the remains. Our dead
should be regarded as too sacred to be ex-
posed to The common gaze as though it was
some curiosity upon which eager eyes would
stare. 1t must be harassing to the immediate
family. Why should they be called upon to
bid their farewell before the world to have
their grief criticised and Knocked at? There
are tears and screams which are meaning
less, and there are dry eyes and SPECIFICS
lOHSucS "lilNh SoiNCai blohSii iISui 'o' ~
sides, disorder is created by Sle moving con
gregation and much time is consumed. We
hope the practice will be discontinued.
4th, Sunday funerals are to be deplored.
In some cases the day is desecrated by the
attending crowds. They largely promote
the pomp and display already pointed out as
Objectionable. They impose work upon the
undertaken when he should be able to take
his rest. They come doubly hard on the
minister whose labors on that day are more
than on any other, and very often they COM
pei him to neglect his duties His mind be
comes taxed and as a consequence his morn
ing and evening sermons are affected. The
hour usually selected is the hour of the Sun
day school, which generally becomes de-
moralized by absences and other causes The
pastor is taken away so that he cannot feed
the lambs committed to his charge. Bodies
which cannot be kept till Monday could be
buried on Saturday
All that is required to carry out the above
reforms, beneficial alike to public health and
morals. is for those having funerals in the
future to have the strength of character to
inaugurate them and not be swayed by pub
lie sentiment as it exists, but try and mould
public sentiment as it should be.