The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-09
PULPIT EDITORIALS.
Church, Chicago. Precsdins the Usual
sermon Sunday. May ., 1898
CREMATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
copyrighted, 1891

De douDt that the conSpicuity or these
two names will be of considerable as
sistance in popularizing this custom.
All people. and, not least Of all. Amer
leans, are peculiarly susceptible to the
weight OF a great name Reasonable
ness and logic have little show against
such force; and in this instance.
where the influence is on the side or
reason, there is hope that the resistance
OF conservatism may be sensibly les
sened. The rapid consumption of the |
remains of q human being by the per-
feet agency of fire has behind II every |
argument of health and OF antiquity. |
and, in the opinion of many, has also |
the preponderance of sentiment. But
1t is opposed by custom, and in matters
of this kind custom is well nigh omni-
potent. The disposal of the body Of the
dead is in the hands of those who are
excited by sorrow and ready to yield
any point of intelligent counsel to an
insnuation that they may be consid-
cred odd or unfeeling.
1t is this fact that has loaded down
our funeral ceremonies with methods
more absurd, shocking and of bad taste
| than those of any other part OF our
social life. The etiquette of burial has
been left to the dictation of those who
have not omitted to fasten extrava-
gance and unseemly display upon rites
that should have been conducted in the
most simple and quiet forms. The
husband and father dies; his widow is
distraught with grief, and leaves all the
| care Of the obsequies in the hands OF
some friend and of the professional
undertaken. The friend insists upon
consulting her as to this and that point
and, feeling that nothing can be too
costly to sacrifice to the memory and
honor of him she loved, she invariably
decides for the most expensive details.
What with a gorgeous mass OF flowers.
rich casket and many carriages, she
finds that serious inroads have been
made upon her little insurance money
by the time the sad ceremony is over
Her husband has saved and shaved that
some supply might be laid up to be OF
use to his loved ones should he be called
away: and, now that the blow has fal-
len, that which he has religiously set
aside for the benefit of his helpless
children, is incontinently used in UNI
wise extravaganza. The poor WIDOW
, can hardly be blamed; she is unfit by
grief TO think and direct with judgment
, at such an hour. The ordinary init
: mate friend can usually be depended
upon to do the wrong thing. The I'M
dertaker would not be human II he die
? not have an eye to business. IL tnere-
l fore behooves every man, at the time
Q he takes out his insurance policy OF
ACQUIRES other property which he de-
signs TO leave to those who by the tie:
of nature and affection have claims up
on him. TO make provision in his VIII
that his funeral shall be conducted
without undue expense and within Ger
tain prescribed reasonable limits
$50
The wealthy have responsibility II
|, this matter, from which they canno
escape. Whether they choose or nol
they set the fashion. None of us livet
unto himself. DESTINATIONS snow
wrong anywhere, but nowhere NOR
than in the last rites for the dead. In
hour of bereavement is common TO al
Prince and pauper alike must som
time play their parts in this pitte
drama. And whoever is favored by tn
possesion of money should nave IN
humanity so to conduct this scene
when the call of sorrow comes TO MN
that by his example his humber lie
lows may not have the added thorn
apparent meanness and neglect, cause
by unavoidable poverty, In their pho
70 Of main. Death is democratic and n
~ rites should be plain. NO gauoy ca
-. nloitation of flowers and robes can ao
", W to the impressiveness of this time.
u, behooyes all Christians resoluteiy
CT DEFY the obnoxious customs OF such o.
to casions and allow simplicity its perfe
I'd work in the expression OF an une'
III nressable agony. Those who have 81
moderate means have religious gu
,k 10 their dependent children to husbar
their resources; those who have plen
TO spend have an obligation, none u
= ;ess religiously binding, toward the
III less unfortunate neighbours.
n From the mere side Of sentiment, a.
er NAV at funerals is in bad taste. i
Al. Shah Jehan was a barbarian and pa
es donable IL he spent untold millions
no building a mausoleum for his lost 10y
A hut civilization, to say nothing OF Chr
:, tianity. recognizes more eloquence
the conyulsive sob and the quiet te
eh than i'm all heathenish magnificen
To- s,mnlv and obscurely We should
ne away our dead, recognizing that .
ter incident Of mortality renders all
he pomp and glory of earth vain and TO
an ish. In the sight of God and OF int
nd gent men, the luxurious trappings
the funeral cavalcade OF the rich
nm nrofusion of floral emblems, the mul
w. tude of carriages and the towerl
' tomb are nothing compared with
VI figure of q heart-broken mother, Y
goes alone and friendless to her ban
len rude coffin and lays upon 1t one rad
sch blossom that she has consecrated W
the her kisses and baptized with tears.
der
ace While, of course. cremation may
inc made an occasion for as much disp
,o,, as bodily interment, yet the tender
"a ~ II will be toward plainness.
Ai more especially the argument In Its
VI vor is that of health. In many pia'
notably New Orleans, 1t is almost
the possibie to bury the body In the cal
ace and the tombs must be built ap
his ground. And in all climates 1t cert'
ack ~. as a general thing. would be m
.th. CONDUCIVE to the health Of commit
a.. A., "a ,nc,nerate the dead than slo