The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-08-25
FORUM OF THE PEOPLE
OPEN TO ALL.
A TIMELY DISCUSSION.


the subject of funerals should be dis
cussed under the above caption but
with persons who have much exper-
fence in such work there frequently
arise questions concerning the proprie-
ty and consistency of certain things
OF course the first thing to be done
is to call your undertaken and consult
him and inform him of your particular
desires which he will endeavor to car
ry out. The selection of the burial out
fit should be in keeping with the pc
cuniary condition of the deceased or
the friends. Extravaganza merely for
the sake of sympathy and show is not
in good taste and at once becomes a
subject for comment if not gossip.
Many times a real hardship is caused
and unpaid bills result from such a
course.
The next person to see before all ar
engagements are made is the minister
who is to officiate at the funeral serv-
ice proper By no means make your
announcements until this has been
done. This is frequently the last part
of the whole affair to be attended to
and often serious conflicts occur and
sometimes dissatisfaction is the result.
Unless a minister is conveniently sit
uated he may first discover through
the published notice that he is wanted
at a certain time for funeral service.
Other engagements may make il inn
possible for him to be there and dis
appointment is the result.
There seems to be enough thought
lessness in many instances to make it
appear that the minister must change
whatever plan he may have and adjust
himself to the demands made for the
particular service. Many people for
get that there are other things that be-
long to the minister's work that are
just as important as burying the dead. |
If possible when the time and place
for such services have been deter
mined upon, do not change them for
endless confusion may result. If a.
service is held in the home under or
binary circumstances it should not ex-
coed forty-five minutes and if in hall
or church it should not exceed one |
hour. A funeral is no place to give |
exhibitions of knowledge or vocal pow
err in the pulpit or choir. A plain Cos
pei talk is frequently the safest, with |
some words of comfort to the friends. |
Only in rare cases is it well to indulge /
in eulogy for there are but few who
have not some grievous faults in the
mind of some listener who at once ac- |
cuses the speaker of falsehood and
talks of preaching people to heaven.
The songs should be those requiring |
little display of musical talent. Sing
ers may be chosen by the friends as
well as the songs selected. Many |
10 a roliNf n
pastor if the work and responsibility
of singing and singers were not expect
ed of him. Persons are not easily |
found for such service in many con-
gregations. If they are working peo-
pie it means loss of half day I'M
less some compensation is made for
service. This is rarely done and where
a pastor has frequent funerals it be-
comes very difficult to secure these
people 1t is hoped that where finan
cial conditions permit this item will
not be forgotten. Where people are
too poor to do this, most people will
freely give their services. This point
naturally brings us to the question of
the minister's services. Should he re-
ceive pay for his services? We can
answer this with no and yes. Most
funeral service. Few expect anything
for their services for deceased men,
bers of the church and poor people |
everywhere. OF course if expense has
been incurred, recompense should be
made We assume without fear of |
contradiction that the minister is an
absolute necessity at q funeral serv-
ice. All classes of people want him.
Il. Ia.
and service and there are certain peo-
pie who should regard him as worth |
something To ask man to give you
his time and service when you are
better able to pay him for them than
he is TO do this for nothing. is an inn
position. This last statement applies
almost entirely to non-church people /
and most ministers have more such /
funerals than among their church |
membership.
II the church and her ministry are
not worth recognition when in life why /
do our friends insist on giving the /
church chance after death claims us?
The truth is that which we curse and /
despfse and ignore becomes a necessi-
" unless we would be classed as bar
barians. IL our lives have said that |
money is the standard of value and /
that thought has appeared all through /
them. certainty consistency would /
say the necessary man is worth some
thing even at a funeral service. What
is here said has reference only to per-
sons outside of the church who do not
support the church and yet are able
to do so.
There is class Of people who strike
a compromise by promising remunera-
ton for such service and then utter
" ignoring the claim. As one minis
ter said, THEY do not owe me any
thing until they promise and then I
certainly have right to expect them-l