Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-10-18
NO SUNDAY FUNERALS.
Ministers Of Martinsburg and
Berkeley County Sign Paper.
TOO MUCH EXTRA LABOR
Agree to Conduct Sunday Funerals
When Absolutely Necessary, But
Not Otherwise.

WI ObHeFWlSS.
The following ministers Of the gos-
pei residing in Berkeley county and
IN the city Of Martinsburg, desire to
reiterate former actions taken in ref
erenece 10 the too prevalent custom
Of selecting the Sabbath day for the
purpose of holding funeral services
over the dead. We feel constrained to
cal attention to this matter because
Of the gravity of the evil, which we
think every right thinking person viii
confess to be worthy of their careful
consideration. We ask you all to
weigh the following reasons which
among others move us to this action.
l. We make our plea on behalf OF
the funeral directors and liverymen.
for all of whom the Sabbath day fu-
neral means no Sabbath, no day OF
rest, no opportunity to go to church
and to enjoy the blessing of worship
ping God, as the Bible requires and
[ united
States secures TO them as a right, mo
eman daring to modest or to make
them afraid"
2. In behalf of the ministers of the
gospel, whose time is very fully taken
up with the labors of the day. And
with especial emphasis do we enter
our protest against the unreasonable
ness of selecting the very hour of pub
lie worship of the sanctuary, for the
holding of funerals, which must often
involve the disappointment of an en-
tire congregation which has assem-
bled for worship If circumstances
may be such as to render the burial
on Saturday or the postponpInent til
Monday impossible then should every
effort be made to avoid conflict with
the regular services of the morning
worship. And this can be always done
By consultation with the minister be-
fore the arrangements have been
completed. We are neither unkind
nor unsympathtic in this position, but
we must press the supreme impor-
lance of the worship Of God in the
regular Sabbath services.
8. We are of the decided opinion
that such funerals do not tend to the
edification of those who seek the op-
portunity to substitute this for the ap-
pointed means of grace in the house
of God. 1t is too often very obvious
that the cutting. rather than the de
sire to honor either God or the dead. |
is the controlling motive. 1t is mat |
ter of notoriety that not only one but
a number of congregations viii be Sc
riously affected, sometimes almost
broken up by the occurrence of the !
Sabbath funeral.
We are well aware that circum-
stances VIII sometimes happen when |
it will be matter of necessity to
bury on the Sabbath But probably not
once in twenty times. And a reason
able mind can easily determine when |
such contingency may really exist. |
The undertaken can always tell |
whether the body can DE 6ept until
Monday.
We do, therefore, most earnestly
exhort all our people to consider these
things and to join with us in an eff
fort to reform at least this element in
our burial customs. We are persuad-
ed that the Sabbath day funeral is a
great hardship to some; a great in
justice to others; and a source of de-
to many.
We therefore resolve: That we will
decline to conduct funerals on the
Sabbath day when they conflict with
the regular services OF the church, I'M
less it is found after consultation that
make the conflict IN
avoidable.
Second-That this action be pub
lished in the different newspapers of
the city Of Martinsburg, and that the
pastors be requested TO read the same
from their pulpits.
Local papers not furnished with
copy of this action are requested to
kindly use this copy.
A. J. SECRIST,
CHARLES E. ELY.
H. V. WHEELER,
w. R. HARDEsTY,
ID ITrrTrrT,Ir