The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-14


pass. coming to them. rs 1t does. Ike
fresh bereavement.
Coming now 10 what may be regarded
as the second division Of the subject which
relates TO funeral customs concerning
which there are differences OF opinion
among men equally conscientious
and equally anxious TO adopt
such az are most in accordance
with reason and propriety, we take as our
fourth topic.
MOURNING FOR THE DEAD.
Fourth. Wearing mourning for the
dead.
There must be something congenial TO
the sorrowins heart in the So. bro h,.D.lia-
mcnts Of woe or they would not be 20
generally worn, Notwithstanding tho pro-
tests Of physicians. the confessed dis
comfort Of the sunocating veil. and the
often unwolcome appeals to sympathy
which these badges OF private grief make
90 unlntcrestcd spectators In public as
scmblies. Let us, however, deal gently
with those who find a sable dress IN har.
mony with a sOrrowing heart, but at the
same time let as encourage those who
would discard mourning attire but for
the seeming demand of custom and the
fear Of criticism lest the disregard Of it
should imply the want of affcctiOnate
sorrow for the dead. The sincerity OF
grief need not be questioned on the part
OF those who have the moral courage 20
discard these external badges Of personal
sorrow. Without giving offence to those
who differ from US. we may al least com.
mend the decision OF those who never put
on mourning for the sake of their example
90 those whose straitencd circumstances
forbid the expense entailed sometimes or
largo families who can an afford this IN
diligence ia the luxury of Woe. In some
Of our households. at least. there have
been those, whom we never mention and
whom we never forget. who have suffered
the sorest bercayomcnts and who cherish
"a tho memory OF their dead with the ten.
dcrest affection. and yet who did not re-
mind the public Of il by any outward man.
Hcstations Of their grief.
Ffth. Double funeral services.
ln most Of our churches there are forms
which their pastors use when officiating
ar mo grave. There are also fratcrnities
societles and orders which have n ritual
OF lucr own. 10 sometimes happens thai
both the church ritual and that OF the
fraternity are used. thus Increasing the
ume spent at the grave and causing an
ohJecuonable repetition. There is an i'm
ilopcIlcty IN this which is painful. The
oihciatng minister may commence tho
or scripture. He may then commit tho
hooy TO the ground i'm accordance with tho
cnurch formula, and then offer the an
popilate prayers. But when he ends the
service ana pronouncos the benedicfion
aio'ner service Immediately begins
J. ne same texts OF scripture are repeat.
''' VIC same form Of commitment is used
ana prayers similar 20 those lust offer
ed are again heard. This doubIo cot,
~ as objectionable as Il would be if i'm the
c.'uicn on the Sabbath dav tho n,eto,
s'o"u oHer an invocation PRAYER ana
IN some other minister should rise and
,a. ''V sumo invocation. or ~ when the
''o4 'losen the worship Of the hour with
'o"e1lcuoh another minister should
IoIioW him with the same benodi.tior
A dead body cannot be committee ~ H.
bIaNe lWlce congregation cannot De
dismissed twice. All the partios con.
cerned are equally interested IN preventjnp
'u's VAIN REPETITION. 10 must be as
ulslasteful 10 those who represent the
lIaterhlues as IL is 10 the pastors. am
speaking on their behalf as we'll as our
own. am not criticlsng these organ
cations nor their rituals. have never
round their chapiains obtrusivc. ON the
contrary, they are respectful and deterrent
lhI ana never commence their service un.
TN me clergyman officiating has ended his
Ihey no doubt realize as fully as ] do tho
lhconsruity the unreasonablencss Of a
double service. n may be- that nv can
ference between men equally desrou. a.
maintain consistency and the most edifv.
ing way Of conducting funeral services q
harmonious solution OF the problem can
be secured.
FUNERAL EXERCISES.
SNth. unerdl sermons and addresses
l+aally, We come TO the consideration
OF question about which different views
are held. and yet one upon which publ.
OPINION seems TO be steadily approach
ing am agreement. There are arguments
ln favor OF sermons or addresses as Il
part OF funeral services winch are en-
titled TO attention. The most wcigntv OF
them is the opportunity the funeral gives
for reaching class of men who rarely
enter church, but who may be touched
by AN appeal made more Impressive by
the solcmnites of the occasion. Not
withstanding that such opportunities do
occur there are other considerations
which seem TO overbalance this advan-
tage in the estimation OF the Christian
public, as is evident from the tact That
the number Of those who adhere 10 the old
custom IS diminishing. and IN some de-
nominations II has become entirely obsO-
livered funeral discourses have abandoned
the practice, and now conlnc their exer-
cises 10 the reading of appropriate por-
lions of Scripture. to hymns. and 10
prayers. IL Is safe TO say that the cult
waited moral sense Of the community Is
less and less IN sympathy with funeral
dlscourscs.
one great purpose OF such addresses,
when they were common, was the desire
on the part Of the pastor TO comfort
the bcreavcd and 10 impress The lessons
of Gods providence IN anliction. Now
80 is felt that the appropriate time and
plate for such ministries is In the home
OF the bereaved, after the funeral is
over. In the days when funeral sermons
were preached. the stricken family often
sat silent during its delivery until the
preacher began his portralture of the
life and character Of the deceased. and
then Immediately there was such audible
distress as 10 show that the anguish of
the bereaved was aggravated by those
well-meant attempts 10 administer consola-
tion. The pastors sympathy can bee best
shown in private. and his comforting
words are more probably heard after the
first shock of the bereavement Is over,
and when they are tendery spoken IA
the quiet retirement OF home.
NOT AN IMAGINARY SKETCH.
in community like ours. where there
Is SO much neighborly feeling. and where
the different denominations dwell to-
rcther i'm such harmony. people frequent
ly attend the funerals OF their friends
when conducted by pastors Of a different
faith from their own. II 10 is the habit
IN one Of these churches 10 have funeral
discourses. the visitor not accustomed
90 them In his own. and seriously dis