El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-18
THE PASTOR
AND FUNERALS
A Paper Read Before the
Ministerial Association
AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
Unnecessary Expense, Unnecessary
Advertising OF Grief, And In
necessary Customs Mark the
Modern Funeral.

The following paper was read be-
fore the Ministerial association and the
undertakers Of Phoenix, reports the
Republican, by Rev. G. V. Cowan,
pastor of the First M. E. church. 1t
will be of interest to Ell Psso ministers
and undertakers and to the general
public.
zone of the first things of which
wish to speak IL concerning funeral ex-
penses. Those who have abundant
mt aus may be generous to their de-
parted if they choose. The fact of
their extravaganza loading those who
cannot afford 1t into unwise expepdi-
lures should no more apply in funerals
than in weddings. To me it is more
justifiable in the adornment of the
dead than of the living. There are
condemn the expenditures of the rich
before that of the funeral. Floral
decorations are included in the item of
expense. If the means allow, cover
the casket with flowers, the grave
with flowers. Put them on the brow
1t will suggest coronation. In the
hand, it will mean victory. Flowers
will stand out in beautiful contrast to
the somber black which Ia becoming
most distasteful. And yet, just at
this point q word of caution is needful
to many who are in moderate circum-
stances. The very lowest estimate
that can be placed upon the funeral ex-
pense Is from $50 to $40. This will pay
for the casket and one carriage. In
case of an infant the hearse may be
dispensed with. 1t is altogether An
erroneous idea that those in moderate
circumstances are expected to furnish
carriages for all the curious, who can
usually be induced to take free ride.
A man who earns but S1.50 per day
cannot afford to furnish four or five
Carriages. 1t ia at this point that the
undertakers can administer q kindly
and benevolent influence to their in
discretion.
"Not recognizing this fact, how
and widowhood and orphanage go
forth into cold charity. The departed
left a small property which would have
been enough to have kept the family
together until they could take care of
themselves, but the funeral expenses
absorbed everything. That went for
Grape which should have gone for
bread. In behalf of the poor plead
less tombstone, more blankets-less
funeral, more bedroom. By all means
do honor to the departed, but do not
consider funeral pageant as neces-
sary.
Second, 1 hope twill not be con-
sidered presumptuous on my part
when I say that all funerals ought to
be held from the home unless in the
C se of some public official or a special
request from the church in behalf OF
one of it's official members, and in
cases of extreme necessity. If the
home be small and all cannot be accom-
modated, it is still better than going
to the church. The church funeral is
too often for appearances and becomes
reprehensible. Grief that is advertised
is truly very abhorrent. The most
sacred thing in life is grief, and the
secret sorrow of the soul
never courts public notice.
"Third, that which mostly concerns
the clergy is the demand made upon us
for formal discourse. Let it be un-
derstood that we are ready tn comply
and consult with the best wishes OF the
family concerning their desires or any
request that may have been made by
the deceased concerning texts, hymns,
ETC., but 1t is ordinarily a needless Gus
tom. There is no great variety of
themes for funeral orations. 1t is
usually the declaration of the same
great truths over and over, aud often
at time we will not heed them. A
glowing eulogy of the dead is not only
distasteful, but dangerous. The vir.
tues of q good man are sufficiently
known and need no special eulogy; aud
to speak of the acts of a bad man at
the funeral is a breach of public trust
gest that the remarks be directed more
especially to the living. The order of
service for the funeral may vary ac