The Wichita daily eagle., 1900-04-11
The 0aita Daily eagle: eamesdau zorio l. 800

casket was to rest, whispering 10 the min
lister as he mounted the pulpit stairs that
he need not give any directions that he
was the master of ceremonies for this &C.
casion- When the audience became quiet,
he arose with much dignity, from where
he was sitting in the audience and said,
in a loud, stentorian voice: THE minister
viii now proceed with the services and
the minister cbeyed. At the close OF the
| religious services, this self-appointed
/ master of ceremonies" rose and pro-
| ceeded 10 the altar and removed the i'd
| of the casket, and proceeded TO deliver a
short address on how the congregation
should deport themselves in viewing the
remains. and took occasion in the pres
/ ence OF the corpse ard the large audi
! ence. to deliver criticism upon the way
most ministers and undertakers render
! their service and then called for the
| women in the audience to Immediately
/ come to the front and view the face Of
their fellow townsman and friend and
pass from the building The order was
not executed at once. but after some de-
lay all the women in the audience had
looked upon the face Of the dead man;
and then he SUNNI Qned every man 10 the
'front.' and last Of all, when all had gone
from the building except the pall-bearers.
/ he escorted, one at a time, each member
Of the bereaved family, first the widow,
I then the brothers and sisters and chill
drea, and more distant relatives, until
each one had been led by the arm 10 look
upon the calm face of their departed rela-
tive and friend. Then the paH-bearers
were given an opportunity; and at last he
stood himself, with folded arms in the
presence Of the dead. After. perhaps,
minutes had elapsed. he proceeded with
great gravity to replace the Id on the
casket and ordered the pall-bearers 20
remove the body from the church.
You viii not be surprised when inform
you that this created no little 4 llmeat
throughout the community. It was writ
ten up in some Of the papers and talked
Of so fully and generally. that al the
spring election. when the canvas5ing
board completed the count for members
o fthe council, schoo board, justices f
the peace, assessor etc, It was found
that this brother who had made such an
unusual record as fun raj director" had
received thirteen votes for undertake."
7 am sure you Will agree with me that
anything that say5rs Of coarseness or thu
want Of absolute gentiity is repulsive to
/ people into whose homes you enter. Many
q time 7 hear words Of commendG- / n
spoken most heartily Of the funeral direc-
tor who was thoughtful and gentle in his
bearing and who possessed in a large de-
gree the fine senslbiHties necessary to
qualify him to serve n a becoming man
ner on such occasions.
THE GARD OF THANKS NUISANCE
wish TO suggest that you take into ac-
count the practicabllity Of telling people
who Sc k your services what a breach OF
good taste IS the publication in the daily
or weekly press Of the usual card Of
thanks" It IS re.ogn 'zed everywhere by
everybody or ought 70 lee, that the friends
and neighbors who minister TO them when
bereft, do so spontane5usly. never ex-
pecting for a moment public acknowledge
1nent. Then because some people publ h
in the city press beautifully worded
card Of thanks FOR these neighborly cour-
tesles. other viii feel obliged 20 do the
same. thinking that unless they d.. they
would be wanting in the spirit of apere-
ciation. Hence. cultivated people have
been known to publish a card Of thanks
when they themselves knew that it was
not the proper thing 70 10. I think a
word from an undertaken rs well as from
the minister TO friends who have suffered
afliction by bereavement, would he most
o-9ortune.
7 also wish to speak Of the ADVANTAGE
Of private buriaIs. With the tendency Of
today, we can appreciate the dying testi-
mony of a m05era tely well-to-do me-
ehanic in Cincinnati who stated to his
pastor during the last conversation they
enjoyed together that he was perfectly
willing and prepared to d e, but he c-uld
not afford it-ta1ing into account the ex-
pense Of his burial The desire for q
great floral display, ard a long line Of
CARRIAGES becomes in q measure con-
tagious, and people moderately well-to-
do frequently spend far more than is
necessary in the burial Of a member OF
their family; hence. a private funeral,
with a brief simple service at home the
, dav before or at a different hour OF the
dav would obviate this growing embaT-
rassment It must be encoura ged by you
gentlemen. and by the weu-t0-do first.
: have in mind a man worth nearly a quar-
Ter Of million dollars, who before he
passed away, called his pastor and wife 70
his couch and gave special directions IN
regard othe religious services which
were to be held in his memory, and gave
, special direction that the burial service
was TO be private; only members Of his
family and business associations pail
, bearers. and near neighhors and friends
were al THAT went TO the cemetery. i
simple religious service was held n the
q, forenoon: the burial was at 1 o'clock II
T, afternoon. The example set by this wei
known and distinguished citizen IS surely
worthy Of imitation. I leave the sUEgos-
ton with you.
PHONE WIRES CROSSED
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