The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-16
FOR CHEAPER FUNERALS.
Recon tiOns of the Special Com.
mittee of the Members of the Epis.
cDu1I Church,

Reco endntions of the Special Com
mittee of the Members Of the E,pis-
cOpaI Church.
Inc committee of the archdeacons Of New.
Y ork which was appointed two years ago t.
consider the question of lessening the COS,
OF funerals has made its report says the
New York Sun. The committee is made up
OF DR.. Henry Mottet. of the Church of the
Holy Communion, William S Boardman
and James L. Learned. They say:
1 our committee refer with gratitude to ?
report ordered to be made by a si'niar com
mlttee, of which the late DR.. retels nes
chairman, a a meeting held in May, 1890,
with the exception that said report did not
attempt any elaboration of principles laid
down, that and the present report are prac-
tlcally the same, barring that, in the iu1g-
lnent OF your committee. the time has not
yet come when the ar"hdaa COMFY is in :
position to 1el0l,.ilIriid the Establishment cf
a new place of burial. Your committee has
examined with great deal of care the con-
stitutdon of the Burial Reform Association.
They are convened that the more closely
the recomme;: dationS Of said committee are
adhered to and toe me- Closely and intelli-
gently the arcn2aaconry co-operates with
said association in the dissemination of its
principles, the larger and more beneficial
Will be the results.
Inc reComm nd tons of the 81 al Reform
Association are follows:
l. Inc exercise of economy and simplicity
IN everything appertainng to the funeral
The use of plain hearses
j. The disuse of Grape, scarfs. feathers
velvet trappings and the like
f. The avoiding of all unehristian and
heather emblems and the of any floral
decorations beyond few cut flowers
The discouragng of all eating and
drinking in connection with funerals
D. The discouraSing of any but immediate
the BODY to the grave but nothing in these
rules and methods shall be considered as
dlscouraging the attendance of persons at
the grave in connection with the holding of
religious service.
Z. The dispeling Of the idea that all club
money or society money must be spent on
the funeral
s. The use Of such ma terals for the cof-
FIN as rapidly decay after burial, and the dis
use of the box in which it is commonly en-
closed.
8. The early interment of the BODY in soil
sufficient and suitable for its resolution to
its ultimate elements.
10. The substitution of burial plots for
family vaults.
IL. The encouragement on sanitary
grounds, of the removal. in crowded dis
tricts. of the body to a mortuary instead of
retaining it in rooms occupied by the living.
u. The impressing upon officers of public
charity and correction the claim of the
poorest to proper and reverent burial
The committee then makes these recon-
mendations, evolved from its own investi-
CATION:
/. The substitution of a simple garb of
muslin or linen for dressing the dead. in
place of clothing that might be of use to
the living.
2. The use of very light. soft wool cot
fin, for the reason that it will decay quickly:
or else of the wicker collins, which have
found favor in England and are now manu-
featured in this country
g. Abandonment of the custom once
prevalent and even now not infrequent Of
building brick and stone enclosures for cof
fins in graves.
T. That the rectors and yestries of
churches should loan the use of some suita-
BILE places for mortuares in connection with
said churches. in which remains could be
removed as quickly as possible after DEATH
s. That so far as possible the clergy sh ould