Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-14
gEFORM IN FUNERALS
y. Hoss Reads a Most Interesting
Paper on This Sahjsct.
CHANGES THAT ARE DESIRABLE
,,.. p,scus.ion Confined TO the aues-
lions Of sunday Funerals, Extrav"-
lance. Exposure, wearing Mourn
,,r. Double Services. sc.

,,r. Double Services. sc.
.r,,rc was iargeiy-aticndcd meeting
~, me Ministerial Union held in the par
- ~ tho Young Mems Christian Asso-
.i,,ion Yesterday at noon. when Or. Hoge
"a hts paper on Funeral Reform
.s,,h lad been looked forward 10 with
.,,ch interest. not only by the clergy
, n the city, but by the laymen as
a.u The paper contained many sug-
...one as 20 the conduct of the funeral
..r,l,e. both at the church and at the
grave.
-,. uoee. "the bereaycments come. which
10 so much VI the music and fragrance
,r6 sweetness out Of life. ana when sor-
"a. has awakened the tenderest and
.,s, sacred emotions OF the heart. we
,,-. NOT dictate 20 the mourner how the
,.,itahie grief should express Itself. nor
ms. down arbitrary rules as to the man
~. in which the last sad rites OF respect
.,r Affection for the departed should be
-.-f,,r,d Few subjects demand more
.-aaerate and delicate handling than
1.,.ral usages, or more deferential re-
-.rs FOR the traditions. the sentiments,
nd The preferences OF others"
DESIRABLE CHANGES.
Dr Uoee expressed his appreciation OF
us courtesy Of the union in requesting
sim 10 prepare the paper on such an i'm
,.rtart thcrs and said In the Discharge
s-srs 20
tte conclusions 20 which he had come
sre~ long consideration OF the subject
..r..r. seem 10 be some usages in the
conduct % funerals" the speaker con-
,.uges which all who have given the
subject any thought are unanimous IN
agreeing may be changed with advantage.
end there are other usages. with regard
to which different opinions are enter
famed. In the natural order OF such. o
discussion. we may consider these sepa-
ritelv. beginning with the reforms about
which there appears 10 be a general ap-
prevail
Tho proper time for holding funeral
services was first discussed. and Dr.
uogp took the position that whenever
practicable they should be held on some
other day than the sabbath. To select
nat day. when no necessity exists. is 10
b., deprecated for many reasons.
"It entails vast amount OF unnecessary
labor. as IS evident from the number OF
PERSONS employed In their different voca-
lions In making preparation for the
funeral. and IN conducting II 10 its close.
mo Decoration of the day In other ways
Is equally evident. Some OF our GENE
teries are thronged on Sundays, as II
ircy were public parks. When an inter-
mont takes place crowds OF unsympa-
fhetc oilers gather about the grave
sometimes with a levity which is painful
a. the bereaVed When there is a mill
accompanying rabble that outnumbers
the soldiers In the procession III the
tine for the funeral should be fixed al
no hour Of the regular service IN me
church then many who are not inter-
esied in the event are disappointed al
such a substitute for their ordinary wor-
ship: and If the time for the funeral Is
fixed ia the interval between the usuai
services. then an undue amount OF la3or
IS imposed on pastors. whose regular du-
trs on that day sufficiently tax their
tine and strength
THD COST or FUNERALS.
DR. Hoge's second point was the cost
az funerals touching which he said:
Here. probably, all viii admit that re-
form IS possible, practicable ana De-
sIrabla We i've AT time when the
aHtculty of obtaining employment is IN
arsasing with the increase OF population
richer and the poor poorer a large pro-
portion o. the people are IN straitene1
circumstance. man may ordinarily
regulate his household expenses according
% his means OF living, but he finds this
privilege taken away when death oc-
ours in bis family, because of the pre-
Vailing custom which demands such eX-
ueusive preparations for the funeral
Mauy a family is straitened for months
after the funeral for want of means or
supporting the living, because OF the
amount expended In buryins the dead.
fns could best be corrected II the rich
would set the example Of as much
economy In funeral expenses as Is con-
sistent with the respect and love they
cherish for the departed, and IL is not
lsyonl the province of the pulpit to urge
g dimmuuon Of eXtravagant display az
q time which speaks so impressively of
the emptiness and vanity OF all that Is
seen and temporal"
GUARD AGAINST EXPOSURE.
The third point discussed was exposure
90 The grave. AS 10 this the speaker
5al:
since funerals must occur at all sea
sons Of the year, and often when the
weather Is most Indictment, the question
af.ses how can this dangerous exposure
he avoided? To stand with uncovered
leads for quarter or half an hour on
,le wet ground possibly amidst rain and
elect and bitter wind, subjects the OIL
eating clergyman and friends OF the de-
ceased o. unnecessary discomfort and
danger Some are now sleeping in our
cemeteries who would, in all probability
s.Il De- among the living but for such
disregard % the natural laws OF, health
U may D. suggested. therefore. that after
.he religious services are concluded the
company should retire, only those re
naming whose duty IL is TO see the IN
tcfment properly conducted; that the
Roles remain IN their carriages, and that
h.ne should be expected 70 stand with
Uncovered heads I'm winter storms, after
i1e prayers are cnded-nor even during
ihe prayers. II age or infiTmily OF any
Ani makes such exposure hazardous.
. another reason for the retirement or
tr htleayed Immediately after the con-
ctHo1 % the religious services Is the
prevention o. the anguish which IS often
Intensified by the saddcst OF all sounds
ne falling OF the clods upon the
WEARING MOURNING.
Coming now" said Or. Hoge. ito what
gay bee regarded as the second division
p iAe subject which relates TO funeral
iAa'pms concerning which there are DIFF
'iriets Of opinion among men equally
..-'t.endoue and equally anxious TO
2. such as are most in accordance
.i- reason and prOpriety, we take as
ST. iolith topic-wearlng mourning for
There must be something congen.al TO
..e Borrowing heart In the sOmbre habili-
-rila or woe or they would not be 50
it.,Ialy worn, Notwithstanding the pro-
e % physicians. the confessed djscom-
..t or the sufocating we'll. and the often
OVERCOME appeals 10 sympathy which
-e' badges Of private grief make 10 un-
.tlestel spectators IN public assemblies.
The sincerity OF grief need not
. questioned on the part Of those who
ave the moral courage 10 discard these
,@!efnhl badges of personal sorrow. With
.-' SWING offence 10 those who differ from
we may al least commend the de-
fsion 81 those who never put on mourn
~ Tor The sake OF their example TO those
-'Ne stialtened circumstances forbid the
s@ptase entaiied sometimes on large
.alnics who can III afford this ipdul-
i'Nle la the luxury Of woe"
DOUBLE FUNERAL. SERVICES