Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26
REFORM IN FUNERALS
A Discussion Of the Matter by Col
ored Baptist Clergymen.
OPPOSITION EXPRESSED TO SHOW
Criticism of Double Funerals Where
Secret Societies Officiate.
NIGER OF DISEAS E

The pastors of the colored churches in
Washington have for some time been con-
sidering plan to reform the method of
conducting colored funerals The change
which their clergymen propose to effect
first is to stop the custom of opening collins
in the church and having the congregation
view the remains of the deceased. The
clergymen who have interested themselves
in this proposed change say that the opening
Of collins in church may spread disease and
endanger lives.
Dr. Fields Cook of Alexandria, Va, who
is member Of the Baptist Ministers Union
Of this city, and one of the Oldest colored
clergymen in the country, has taken the
initiative step in the movement At the
meeting this week of the Baptist Ministers
Association DR.. Cook called the attention of
the association to this evil, and said that it
was due to the good health of the public that
it should be done away with. Other mem
berS OF the association agreed with DR.. Cook
and spoke upon the subject. In this con-
nection it was stated that often bodies are
kept out of the grave for several days
more, especially If the deceased person hap
pens to be some dignitary in any of the
many lodges or secret societies in the city.
After having been thus kept several days,
in order to allow the members of the lodges
opportunity TO participate in the funeral,
the body is taken to the church. Very often
the crowd is SO large it cannot be accommo-
dated in the church and friends of the dead
remain waiting on the outside. After the
services are completed the casket is opened
and all those who desire to do SO are
quested to pass around and review the re-
mains.
Great Danger.
According to the talk before the associa-
ton caskets are sometimes kept open for an
hour or more and hundreds of people pass
a te6 vii ha 6eS of
beholding the last of the deceased and the
majority for mere curiosity. This, some
of the clergymen declared. was a dangerous
custom.
The majority of the members of the min
listers association were of the opinion that
hereafter there should be no more opening
of collins in churches.
Anathemas Mt the Coffin.
Another thing which was brought out in
connection with the discussion of the sub,
ject was that often those whom the de-
ceased had been so unfortunate as to make
his enemies in life. take opportunity, upon
such occasions, to say unpleasant things
about the deceased over his remains, as
they pass around the coffin. One clergyman
related an incident where the deceased was
a man, and in passing around his coffin,
one of his enemies remarked: pose you's
done lying about me, now On another
occasion one remarked: Stay there, you
rascal The clergyman said that such
conduct was disgraceful, and the conduct
Of curiosity seekers had brought the thing
to point where it ought not to be further
tolerated.
Another matter which occupied the at
tention Of the meeting was what one of the
members was pleased to call double fun
erals" After the preacher has had his say,
according to this member, the society OF
which the deceased is member often con
ducts another service, consisting OF ritual
istic services, mystic signs and grips. clap
ping of hands and giving of Arabic or other
passwords. The clergymen who partici-
pated in the discussion said that 1t was In
tended that these services should be con-
Quoted at the grave and not in the churches.
and the societies take advantage of the
church because the people don't go to the
cemetery.
Sunday Funerals.
In most cases it matters not how early in
the week a member of the lodge may die,
the body is generally kept until Sunday.
in order that there may be as big a display
as possible. Bands of music are secured,
and the chief grand exalted potentate. or
the past worthy grand chief. has charge of
the services. After parading through the
principal thoroughfares leading to the
church, they arrive there usually about 2
o'clock. After the pastor has finished with
the church service the chief grand exalted
potentate assumes charge OF the remains,
and the ritualistic services of the order are
gone through with.
So much time is consumed that one of the
clergymen said the major PORTION of the
Lords day is taken Up, not in worshiping
the Lord, but in making a show of the
dead. and they have accordingly deter
mined to have no more double funerals"
Those who are of this opinion say that If
the societies are determined to have this
kind of funeral they will have to be con-
Quoted in halls, and not in the churches.
Comment of the Clersymcn.
During the discussion of this subject one
of the clergymen, who participated in it,
said that these displays on the part of the
secret societies had a baneful effect upon
the colored people here. as it caused many
of them to identify themselves with secret
societies in preference to the churches, with
the hope of having big display over them
when they are dead. Incidents were told
where poor colored people worked hard for
the mere Dittance of salary and paid
most of it into secret societies, or. in some
cases, denied themselves the pleasure of
attendance at the churches, and even some
times of food and clothing To be men,
Der of some secret order was more to them
than being members of the church.
The clergymen expressed themselves as
favorable to secret societies, but not to the
extent of having the members neglect their
churches or the duties which they owed
themselves. The members of the meeting,
While not taking any official action upon
the subject, expressed their determination
to use their influence in the suppression of
what they complained of as evils
The membership of the association in
Guides the members of the Baptist churches
of this city and parts of Maryland and Vir-
ginia.
He Could Spare 1t.
From the Rezbusy Gazette.
Tramp-"One moment. my friend. can you
spare the price of a glass of beer?'