The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-21

Michigan Funeral Directors Association
Made Up Of Enterprising and Prosper
Gus Looking Business Men.

semble In good numbers wednesday, ana py
the time the meeting was called to order In the
afternoon there were about forty who had
found their way into the armory which had
been handsomely trimmed with an abundance
of bunting In the national colors, while large
number of United States flags we're tastefully
draped about the arches, galleries, and the
stage. The front of the latter was further en-
riched by perfect hedge Of palms and other
potted plants which presented an unusually
graceful appearance and,gave cooling effect to
the whole scene. The decorations were put up
under the direction Of Chas Rubekam and have
never been equalled for the amount OF material
used.
At half past two President M H. Knapp of
this city, called the meeting to order in way
which showed him to be fully at ease before
such gathering. An earnest prayer was then
offered by Rev. DR.. Sweet. President Knapp
then called on Mayor A. M. Hume, M. d., intro
ducing him with witty remarks, in his profes-
sional rather than his Official capacity.
The mayor responded in a humorous vein,
though assuring the visitors OF hearty well
come to this city. He had no "canned" speech,
he said, as he did not wish to usurp any of the
duties pertaining to the embalmer's art. While
he couldn't offer them a boat ride or a yacht
enough water to drink. He hoped that they
would enjoy rest, pleasant time, and carry
away good impression of the city with them.
The response was given by g. M. Ranger, of
Battle Creek, who particularly emphasized the
pleasure in visiting the factories which are
furnishing them with the class of goods which
brings them both trade and friends, and closed
in humorous vein by insisting that after all
were dead and gone but the preacher and the
undertaken, the latter would lay the lifeless
body of the former to rest at last, and then
there being no one left to bury him he would
have to ascend In fiery chariot like Elijah of
old.
Committee on credentials was then appoint
ed and the convention went into business
session and listened to reports OF officers
In the evening pleasant program was car
| ried out at the armory, where music by
the Acme quartette and a recitation by Miss
Maude Gates broke up the evenings program,
which consisted of several addresses, including
| the annual address by Pres M. H. Knapp and
others by Mr.. John A. Dick, of Detroit; Dr. B.
s. Knapp, Rev. C. " Northrop, and Prof.
Eliab Myers, of the Champion College OF en-
balmng The evenings program was well car
ried out and thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors,
some OF whom were accompanied by their
wives and by the citizens present.
In his annual address President NJ H. Knapp
reviewed the progress made by the association
| and spoke of the high standing 1t had in other
| states besides our own. The value the asso-
| citation had had to the public at large was
also dwelt upon, the good which wider dis.
semina tion of knowledge and higher grade OF
proficiency had brought. The failure to SECURE
desired laws regarding the proper examination
and certihcation of undertakers was referred
| to. and thanked the members for the courtesy
uniformly shown him during the year in which
he had been their president.
Mr.. John A. Dick, of Detroit, gave q short
talk, emphasizing the difference between the
undertakers Of q few years since and the
funeral directors. of today The former with
his unskillful dependence on members OF the
family making the family's grief worse, the lat
ter trained to skillfully relieve the bereaved
ones of all care and responsibility and to make
| their loss easier to bear.
DR.. B. s. Knapp wittlly said that while he
had heard Of a funeral director following two
| doctors 1t was an unusual thing to hear of q
doctor following two funeral directors. He,
however, appreciated the value of the work OF
the association in helping to train the members
to be ministering angels in the times OF distress
in which they were called.
| A recitation by Miss Gates was then we'll
| rendered and thoroughly enjoyed.
The address by Rev. G. v. Northrup was full
Of interest He testified to the uniformly kind
and considerate treatment he had received at
the hands Of members Of the profession, and
said that in this work OF comforting the dis
tressed the funeral directors and the ministers
should be in close touch with each other. He
| lxya la6 tn hap faxi an
further improve themselves in this work and
offered few suggestion which his own expert
ence had brought to his mind.
Yesterday the entire official part OF the con
vention's work was given up to the demonstra
tion on cadaver by Prof. Myers, whose work
gave many OF the members new ideas on the
proper methods Of caring for and preservine
bodies committed to their care. In the evening
before the banquet a short program was car
ried out in the armory, at which time number
OF leading directors were down for papers, ant
Mr.. p. A. O'Brien, of Grand Rapids for an ad
dress. Prof Myers was also called on for an
other address.
The meeting at the armory last evening was 4
business session and not open to the public. tn,
directors meeting to discuss matters OF purel,
technical interest The meeting was called Il
order at half past eight by Pres Pnapp who al
once introduced Mr.. Francis, Of the Embalm
ers' Monthly, Chicago.
This paper was put In to fill vacancy ant
was one written by Mr.. Flanner, for the India
napolis convention 1.-THE Undertakers versus
the Funeral Directors" The paper traced th,
development OF the undertaken in semi.humor
Gus, partly practical vein, and pointed ou
some Of the necessary trials OF undertakers
the most Of which are caused solely by lack O
business methods. The small volume of bust
ness done for the capitol invested was dwell
upon and the directors were told that IL wa,
their own fault II the business was not don,
more nearly on cash and money making basis
An address by Prof Myers was the next OF
the program, though II took the form of a aui;
rather than an address, a result of the cuttinG
short OF the session az the factory in the after
noon. "As funeral directors you have a broa,
6eld and may not only become good business
men but you should have your own library an,
become educated. The merest tyro can do Oh,
mechanical part Don't sop with the merely
mechanical part Study anatomy, physiology
morbid conditions, bacteriology, etc. Stud,
thom from the scientific works" On bein,
/ raH a, Iff.t