The Republican journal., 1913-05-15
CHAPTER X. (1812-13.)

CHAPTER X. Q812-13.)
Since the publication of our last chap
ter it has been suggested that descrip-
ton of the forms and ceremonies on flu
neral occasions at the period of which we
are now treating would be acceptable.
1t was before the day of rosewood,
black walnut and metallic caskets, or of
hearses. The coffin was usually of pine,
stained black, and bier was the vehicle
on which it was carried to the grave.
At the funeral of an adult there was a
gathering of almost the entire adult
population in the neighborhood. The
religious services at the house Of the
deceased consisted Of selections from
the Scriptures and prayer; on rare occa-
sions there was singing and brief dis
course. Those services completed, the
coffin was taken from the house, placed
on the bier, and pail thrown over it.
The relatives of the deceased were then
escorted by the master of ceremonies,
hat in hand, to their positions in rear of
the bier; until within few years Of this
time the master wore a sword and
cooked hat such as were worn by mill
tary men in the days..of the Revolution.
Next after the relatives followed the
friends and neighbors of the deceased,
two and two; usually long procession.
At signal from the master, always
given by the waving of a white hand
kerchief, four of the bearers, there
were always eight of them, took the
bier on their shoulders, the other four
taking their positions in front in readi-
ness to relieve the four bearing the bier
should they become weary under their
burthen; the pall-bearers, there were
usually six, walked by the side of the
bier, three on each side, taking hold of
the hem of the pail. Arrived at the grave
yard the coffin was deposited in the
grave, a few shovels-full of earth were
thrown upon it-there was none of the
modern filigree parade then about "dust
to dust. ashes to ashes" &c. the be-
reaved husband, or father, in other cases
the officiating clergyman, expressed to
the bearers and pall-bearers thanks for
the kindly service they had rendered,
and the procession returned in the same
order to the house. Arriving there, the
relatives having passed in, the pall-bear-
ers ard bearers We're invited by the mas
ter to room where refreshments in the
form of wine and, sometimes, other kinds
of liquor were provided for them; all
partook and then separted. There was
no excess; simple glass sufficed; there
was no merriment, but every thing was
conducted with the solemnity BETTING
the occasion.
This custom continued until a public
sentiment adverse to the use of intoXi-
eating liquors on any occasion was awak-
ened, and then this came to be looked
upon as "a custom more honored in the
breach then the observance. In these
days it would be so in conflict with the
hardly be tolerated. Let US not be too
harsh in condemnation of our fathers in
this particular. In the days when it was
regarded right, almost a religious duty,
the Memory of Washington" and of
the Heroes of the Revolution" it was
but another phase of the same sentiment
to drink to the memory of the departed
| 10 e
a small child no bier was used, and there
were no pall-bearers. A white handker-
chief was tied around each end of the
little coffin and it was carried to the
grave by four boys. few years older
than the deceased, two walking on each
side, each taking hold of one side of the
handkerchiefs.
1t became apparent early in this year,
1872, that war with Great Britain was
inevitable. On the fourth day of April
Congress laid an embargo for ninety
days ION all vessels in the harbors of
the United States;" this was followed
by declaration on the eighteenth of
June following that war exists between
Great Britain and the United States"
Intelligence of the event reached here
by due course of mail on the same day
that the frame of the house now occu-
pied by Hon. K. C. johnson was raised.
The blow was not unanticipated, but it
fell with stunning effect on the good
people here. A panic pervaded the COM
munity; almost every possible evil was
predicted, and the opinion freely ex-
pressed that it would soon become neces-
sary for all living on the coast of Maine
to abandon their possessions and remove
beyond reach of the enemy. Taking in
to consideration the fact that the pros
perity of the place was so entirely de-
pendent on navigation and commerce it
is not strange that the prospect for the
immediate future was any thing but
bright; Notwithstanding it was a war
undertaken for Free trade and sailors
rights"
The allusion to the raising of the frame
of Mr.. Johnson's house furnishes the
fitting occasion for calling to mind All