The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-14
FUNERAL REFORM.


The burial Of the dead always awak-
ems and touches the tenderest and most
sacred feelings and sentiments OF the
human heart. With these feelings the
ministers OF Christ's Gospel arc i'm the
deepest sympathy; Of which there is
standing testimony, in that at death,
yea before death ensues, the minister
is the first comforter sent for, and the
first to respond. In suggesting, there
fore. any changes i'm the customs con
pected with the burial OF the dead a
reform difficult TO accomplish. be-
cause of the sacred associations, it
would appear most appropriate for the
ministers of the community to speak
as being the least iikelv TO be mis-
understood; and also as being the
recognized leaders in holy and sacred
things We, therefore, the ministers
Of Durham, in conference assembled,
believing that certain customs con
nected with the burial Of our beloved
dead prevail which tender rather to
stife the sacred feelings natural there
to, and which are Injurious and often
disastrous to the living, with due
modesty venture 10 call attention to
these customs anu 10 suggest certain
changes. The particulars IN which we
believe change is desirable are briefly
indicated below:
!. The expenses Of the funeral In
our love for the dead, orr heart
prompts us to disregard expense In
doing so, however, we may uninten~
tionally do injury TO the living. lin the
person OF our own loved ones and OF
the community. A costly casket, a
large number OF hired carriages by
those who can afford them establishes
a standard, the cost of which eBr0Ices
upon those who cannot afford it a
debt (which often can never be paid,
and robs the living at times of the
very necessaries OF life for months af-
forwards. We suggest, therefore, out
of proper consideration for the sacred
feelings Of Gods worthy poor and per-
sons OF limited means, and for the
needs of the living the use Of a simple
inexpensive casket, and the hire of
only a sufficient number of carriages
for the members OF the immediate
family.
2. Services at the grave. These last
ing several minutes often in incie-
ment weather. ieopardize the health
and life Of the family and friends, the
strength of some of whom at times
has been impaired by long nursing
of the deceased; 50 that one funeral
sometimes necessitafes another in
quick succession Without any disres-
pect to the dear one buried, 1T would
be wise and prudent for all friends and
relatives to retire from the grave as
soon as the form of commitment has
been read, whenever the weather IS in-
and leave the filing Of the
grave and the placing Of flowers TO the
superintendent of the ceremony and
to one or more chosen friends. More
over it is best and in the interests of
health in Indictment weather for all
parties to keep their heads covered
during the committal Of the body 10
the ground.
2. Sunday funerals Except In cases
Of absolute necessity funerals should
never be appointed on the Lords Day.
On the readily appreciated grounds,
that they necessitate great deal of
additional labor to the undertakers.
the liyerymen, the superintendent Of
the cemetery and to the employees;
that they interrupt the appointed wOr
ship of Gods Day and Houses; that
they take people away from Sunday
Schools and church services, who by
preference would be there, greatly to
the temporary detriment OF these adj
ditional and trying services upon min
listers whose heaviest and most impor
tant duties fall upon the Lords Day.
4. Wearing Of mourning apparel.
This is purely a matter of custom,
seeing that in some countries the
badge Of mourning is white, in others
as in England it is red or purple. The
excessive use of black among Chris
tians for the loss Of Christian friends
is virtual denial of a precious truth
Of the Gospel, viz: the immediate bless
edness Of those who fall asleep in
Jesus. Moreover, the change of wear
ing apparel involves heavy expense
which many can jill afford and yet
which custom has imposed upon them.
While ii also detains the mourners for
weeks from the house Of God, the place
Of all others where the Christian
mourner is encouraged 70 find com
fort
8 Funeral services We recommend
at all ordinary funerals, the omission
Of what Is properly known as the fun
eral sermon" and that the minister
conduct and not preach the funeral.
q. Opening the casl<et. This opens
anew the fountain Of tears and when
ia public exposes the face Of the be-
loved dead to the oftimes prurient cur
iosity Of a criticising crowd Tt would
be well, therefore, for the family and
friends ordinarily to take the last fond
look at the face of the dead in private,
before the funeral services begin, after
which the cas<ct should not be open
ed
z. Selection Of time for the funeral
The day and hour should not be fixed.
and certainly should never be publish