Evening star., 1895-10-31
SUNDAY FUNERAL QUESTION
Further Discussed by Ministers Of the
Colored Churches.
The Relations of the Pastors to the
Secret SOcictica-Vievs of Well
known Clergynen.

The proposition of colored Baptist min
listers to make reform in the mode of con-
Quoting church funerals seems to have met
general approval among colored clergymea
of all denominations. The subject was again
discussed by the Baptist Ministers Union
yesterday. Rev. VIM. A Credit. the pas
tor Of the Berean Baptist Church, spoke in
commendation of the movement, and said
that as member of the union ne had been
consra tulated on every hand over the an
,jnounGement in The Star of Saturday that
the pastors had determined to create senti-
ment against the present manner of con-
Quoting funeral services and making dis
play of the dead.
From opinions obtained from different
clergymen present it was evident that they
believed that # the opening of collins in
church is not stopped the health authorities
would take some action in the matter. The
custom of opening collins in churcnes and
having long secret society services is not
pract!ced in all of the churches This is
more especially the custom in what might
be called poor churches" and the churches
attended by the masses of the people. In
the churches whose congregations are better
off N worldly goods, while caskets are some
times opened, they are provided with glass
cases, and the features of the deceased can
be observed without opening the casket.
The pastors of the churches IN South Wash
lnStOn ana tnOSe IN the northeast, where
the churches are located from which the
majority of the colored people are buried
may at first receive some opposition to their
efforts to enforce the reform, as the people
have become SO accustomed to the present
manner of conducting funerals, but the pas
tors believe they will win in the end
The Rev. Robert Johnson, pastor Of the
Metropolitan Baptist Church, said to a Star
reporter today that he had for a long while
advocated this reform. but that until now he
could not get the other pastors around to
his way of thinking. He further said that
he was opposed to such elaborate secret So
c:ety services in she church, and that the
officials OF the societies had become so bold
that they now go ahead and make elaborate
preparation and designate the time and
place of holding their services, without at
all consulting the pastor Of the church in
which the funeral is to be held. He thought
that if the brethren would stick by their
determinations to reform the services that
they will do themselves, the churches and
the community great service.
Not Opposed to Secret Societies.
The members<of the union did not want to
go on record opposed to secret societies,
and thought that the elaborate services and
display which are now carried out might be
modified and add some respectability to the
funerals of their members.
One of the clergymen said to a Star report
er: "The brethrens' determinations on this
will they carry them out? Many of us have
many members in the secret societies, and If
there is anything that our people 40 love II
is to belong 10 these secret organizations,
and they may become aiSafectad If we carry
| out our determination. This may cause
some of the pastors to weaken. and, in order
| to please their par.shioners, to go back to
| the old custom. 1t has been my experience
that some of the brethren are too easy to
| take water when their congregations get
| behind them, ard it matters not what we
| resolve here to do if they find it doesn
meet the approval of Their fiocks, why. they
| back down. OF course. we are to please
| our congregations, but when a question like
| one affecting the health of he people is de-
| cided upon we should not give way to our
| congregations, but should EDUCATE them III
| to our, way of. thinking. l hope that the
| brethren will carry out their resolves, be-
cause it will meet the approval of the entire
| populace."
In Other Denominations.
| The Ministers Union, which is composed oi
| colored clergymen regardless of lepomlna
| tions met yesterday in the Y. NJ. C. A. par
| lors. on 11th street, and DR.. Alexander Crum
| nell presided. Before the session DR.. J. T
| Jenifer, the pastor of the Metropolitan A
| NJ Z. Church, the largest Methodist congre
CATION of color here talked with The sta
reporter upon the proposed reform. III
| said: I'VE do not have many Sunday func
| rails at our church. They are held during
the week. While we do not suffer from th'
| evils of which our good Baptist breshrer
| complain, yet concur with -hem and believe
| that they are doing good work in attempt
| ing to suppress this show of the deal.
| Often people who have died of contagious
| disease are brought to The church, unlnowl
| to the pastors, and this is dangerous TO tn
| health of the community / have been offer
| sent for to conduct the funeral of those VIII
| have died of diphthcr.a and other contagious
but l have refused to allow the bodies to b,
! brought to church. On one occasion l re
member the parents of the deceased were 81
anxious for funeral service that had t,
| consent TO hold service in the back yard
| and on another occasion, after a part of TN
| house had been fumigated, l conducted tn
| services at the house. If these people haI
| had their way the bodies would have beei
| brought TO the church. and the lives Of al
| those in attendance upon the funeral woult
| have been endangered The Baptist breh
rem are certainly attempting to do nlucl
good and 1 hope they will succeed. They vii
have my cooperation in the work.
DR.. Francis j. Grmie Of the Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church said that h:
| congregation did not suffer from the evil
| complained Of, but he, like DIR. Jenifer, hope
| that the other brethren would succeed II
| their efforts.