The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-05-10

At2 p. m. President McAvoy called
the association to order in the hall of
the Lincoln club, in the Downey block.
His opening remarks were as follows:
Gentlemen and Members of the California
State Funeral Directors Association:
In calling our annual convention to
order, deem it appropriate that l
should congratulate you upon the condi-
ton OF our association during the past
year, and to express the hope that our
future may show continuous and
steady improvement in all matters per-
tanning to the welfare OF our organiza-
ton. Notwithe landing the fact that
this association has been in existence
but few years, you will doubtless all
agree that much has been accomplished
in the matter OF mutual Information and
education In our vocation, and the cre-
alton and promotion of that friendly
feeling which should exist between
brother professionals. feel that it ia
also subject for congratulation that we
are privileged to meet On this occasion
In this beautiful city OF Los Angeles,
which, in it's fine buildings, elegant
homes and modern progressive spirit,
its great extent and marvellous growth,
challenges our admiration.
1t is hardly necessary to state the Sub
ject of this meeting, as that has been
referred to 80 many times, but l will
briefly add that, as we are convened here
for the purpose of encouraging an adj
vance in the skill and care with which
we perform the last Offices for the dead,
and that we are expected, rs fellow
members OF a fraternal and social or
ganizatioR, to impart to each other any
thing of benefit to the profession se a
whole, therefore bespeak for the 1880
citation any contributions from each and
every member, of any information he
may have acquired tending to elevate
and dignity the vocation we follow.
During the past year your executive
committee has received and acted upon
a number of applications for member
ship in association and in every case in
which the applicant was found to be
competent and of good moral character,
he was promptly and cheerfully re-
ceived. l would particularly call your
attention to these two qualifications abb
solutely necessary for admission, for by
these rules and upon this basis Ia our
association founded. Beyond this our
members are expected to attend to the
duties devolved upon them in careful,
skillful and conscientious manner, show
ing proper and decent respect to the
dead. and in all cases, when necessary,
protecting the living. Thus far our
rules extend, leaving all matters con-
nected with our vocation to tine personal
integrity and Judgment of each indi-
vidual member.
Among the important matters with
which this association has been en-
ployed, probably the most important
was the promotion OF bill which it was
hoped would be passed by our last as
sembly, looking to the protection OF the
public against contagious diseases, and
requiring and ensuring skill and COM
potency in those entrusted with the
burial of the dead. The legislative
committee to which this matter was en-
trusted collectively and individually did
everything in their power to secure the
passage of the bill, and the chairman,
Mr.. w. A. Halstead, is entitled to our
thanks for the painstaking and careful
manner in which he performed his
duties. He meN with unlocked for OBJ
position, most OF which came from per-
sons who felt that if competency and
skill were to be the standard in the pro-
fession they by this measure might be
excluded. Some opposition also came
from some manufacturing concerns, but
for what reason / cannot surmise. Our
thanks are also due to the press, who
assisted us so kindly and efficiently, and
the funeral directors of Los Angeles and