The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-19
Tic 81 THE FuNERAL.
By a Pasror.9

pie should often be pernsexed to know
what 70 do at such times Then. too.
those most nearly related to the deceased
are under a strain that largely units
at that immediate hour unless these mat
ters have been carefully thought over and
fixed principles decided upon in advance.
As a pastor who has observed these
things for years. we have some sugEes-
tons to ofer that wiz perhaps help some
to a knowledge OF What ought 10 be done
and the manner OF doing the same
The undertaken IS the person whom
present custom makes a master Of cere-
monies il the house OF mourning and he
should be called 70 the charge as PROMPT
~ as possible. All care CT the deceased
is IN his hands. but there IS much more 10
be done BY him that is often placed 70
the care OF others. He should BE expect
ed 10 make al arrangements Tor the fu-
neral. whatever they Zee. such as procur-
ing the services of the pastor Qf there
be none in attendance at the time q
DEATH procuring pail bearers. musicians
and such other matters as claim the at
tentiOn Of some responsible person IL IS
unjust TO q minister TO send him notice OF
a funeral OF a stated hour and demand
his services for that hour. for the reason
that he must invariably cancel some
other engagement. He is entitled 10
consultation before fixing the hour for
service Then again he is often asked 20
procure pan bearers, singers and do other
errands that properly belong to the man
who is paid and is professionally prepared
10 do this very service. Give the under
taker your instructions as TO all mat
ters mentioned.
As stated above. the minister. Il the
death be one Of his members especially.
should be notified promptly. He owes a
duty 10 the bereayed family in time Of az
Fiction which he VIII promptly fulfill by
going 70 the home and Offering such sym
patty as COMFORTS with the circumstan-
ces He does this not as a paid service.
but in keeping with the mission on which
he was sent by the Master. In the
homes of his people il is not customary
for pastors. in Protestant churches 70
accept any compensation for services
rendered at funerals. That is a part Of
the duty they owe 20 the flock. When
called upon by persons who are not mem
bers OF his church 10 conduct a funeral
service a pastor is entitled to c0mpensa-
ton. A funeral is the most severe strain
70 which a feeling pastor is as a rule
SUBJECTED and 10 pay an undertaken at
the liberal figure that is charged when he
has a task comparatively ight, because
he sends in q bill for his services and ig-
nors the minister. who VIII not send In a
bill for his service, is totally unjust 1t
is a universal custom among persons not
members OF the pastors church 70 send
a reasonable recOmDense TO the minis
ter. The writer has been frequently asked
concerning this by persons who did not
know what was the custom and who were
anxious to do what was expected.
The writer would commend common
sense in the matter of expenditures. We
have no exception to take TO the lavish
expenditure OF money on the funerals Of
the milIionaires. But few are miliionaires,
Few even fan heir 10 thousands or hun
dreds. The great mass inherit nothing
except perhaps debts. Yet the poor man
loves his dead just as much as does the
rich. Shall he, therefore. spend as much
on his funeral ss the rich MANI He did
not do it in life. Neither should he in
death. People that live from hand 20
mouth cannot spend 800 on funeral OF a
father or mother striving 70 do justice
TO the dead and instead doing gross In
justice to the living. 1t is sin against
the living TO mortgage the income for
months and deny the home Of the neces-
sites of life 10 show great respect to the
mistaken affection but downright dishon-
esty for a mans family or friends to in
dulge in expenditures that cannot be
met"
Not only be modest in the casket. but
do not engage ell the cabs IN the city 10
take al the friends and the neighborhood
ioafers to the cemetry. Those who are
in sympathy with you know your needs
If you be not wealthy, and VIII not
blame you in the least and those that
blame are not the ones whose sympa thy
is of any comfort under any circum-
stances. The most sublime funeral In
history IS that Of St Stephen, and it is
described in these words-and no more.
And devout men carried Stephen 70 his
burial"
There is perhaps nothing 81 expressive
of love and sympathy as flowers. Where
these come as ths tribute Of love and -
spect from friends as they most often do,
they are most appropriate and proper,
but simple roses and lilies are mora nat
ural and appropriate than an avalanche
Of set pieces. anchors gates ajar "
crosses or haTps- But they may be sent
with much more comfort 70 the survivors
a week after the funeral. Il IS then
that the loved one VIII be most keenly
missed.
Tt is an evidence Of bad taste to permit
newspapers TO enter into the details con
corning casket. dress and appearance OF
writer once read a description like this.
THE remains were atdred IL patent lath-
er slippers and buttonhole boquet, covered
with an eiderdown blanket trimmed In
ribbons and lace" ard that the whole
rested in q solid oak casket, with heavy
silver mountings, silver extension bar
handles and plate" II the remains Of
the deceased had TO be dressed. as IL this
case, as though going 70 q fashionable
dress bali, the details ought not u b
herslded 10 the world. This Is the height
Of vulgarity. Newspaper descriptions q
these matters should be Of as general a
character as possible 10 compoFt with the
demands OF good taste and true affection
Funerals except IN the cases Of persons
who filed places Of unusual prominence
in life, public officers. civI CT ctherw ise,
should be held IL the private nome. The
carpinE curiosity Of the neigHb0rhood
gossip viii be less Iikely 20 be attracted
n the house Of mourning % see how
the people take on han 81 the service 81
held in the church. rhe home Us The most
sacred place at mis- solemn time. the
spot whore the deceased was HIS or her
true self and as the fuaerai service o.
OF all services a heart service. = s. most
appropriate that q should 20 held ln TIE
home. Fortunately this custom is be-
coming almost universal. and Il ought 70
be encouraged.
Funerals should be brief II The per-
sons do not 50 request i. the clergyman
should have common sense enough 20
make il So. A funeral service fs for the
comforting Of the living. ard a long doe
triual discourse an death or the rcsgrrec-
ton IS infinitely out - piece Simplicity
and tenderness says Or. CuTser. '-ara
the prime essentials ~ @ funeral dis
course. Grief s. always simple ard 1leed-
iug hearts must be to-iched gently" Ifs
man =ho directly OF Indirectly. ~ Eucn a
time takes advantage n such ar ocr7 1iou
% dwell o. such rrs are vel EncT1 ~
have characterized TIRE ilfe ~ fne de-
ceased. has a heart ~ stone AID deserves
universal conaeuzratlcr-
TIE CORPSE should rot - shand1re1 20
strlrrers. Tae fe1efe1 ne.aE sfaly
for the srrr1HlrT fTieu5T. they who arr
rearest q the decess-1 should oe El1cca
nearest during THE eerriccs- Tfe c-E-
tnat has been growing 81 favor rece--
rears u rfa-t-z tne aear ffffr1r l~ Sons