Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-12-24
Our Funera, Customs.

The New Mexican" of Santa Fe..
N. M, contains a letter from the
pastor, who officiated at DIR E. Almon
Leonard's funeral, which contains
some thoughts on our present funeral
customs that may be of interest to
Monitor readers. especially since Dr.
Leonard was native of Glover AM
well known in this vicinity The
paper speaks in highest terms of DIR.
Leonard and states that he was an
active member of the Chamber of
Commerce in Santa Fe. The letter
referred to follows.
Sir: Every man seems to have
peculiar conditions to face IN accord
with his profession A many of US
are entirely familiar with the expert
ences of others. wish therefore
through your columns to speak of
some things from my own standpoint
as minister. And what / have to
say has to do with something that
should concern every citizen IN this
and every community. For 1T is an
experience which all must face 1T is a
test that we must all undergo For it
is death with its funeral ceremonies.
Thursday, DIR. Leonard. a well-known
dentist of our city. was laid away,
after having waged a fourteen year
! struggle with the white plague. He
knew that the end was approaching.
/ Before his dennis Sc. he made certain
requests in relation to his funeral
obsequies He desired that there
should be no funeral procession Of
| friends and neIghbors to view his
remains as he lay in his casket He de-
sired that there should be no garments
of mourning worn by the bereaved.
He desired that no flowers should be
put upon his casket, and if sent to the
house. should be given to the living
instead of being placed to freeze and
wlther upon his grave And all of
these requests were faithfully observed
by the sorrOwing wife anu friends.
ask you, sir, why should not these
requests of our deceased friend. DR..
Leonard, become the custom in our
city and country? Fashion has decreed
that you shall manifest your love or
make up for your failures in life to
apprec ate your friends, by sending
flowers to their bier. Fashion has
decreed that you shall wear black.
a symbol of heathenism, for SO
many months after the death of q
relative. Fashion has decreed that
the curious multitude shall have q
chance to look upon the face of the
deceased All of these customs should
be abolished. Flowers should be sent
to the living. Gold eyes can't see
them you know" K md words should
be spoken to a man before he dies
"Cold ears cant hear them, you
know" Kind faces should see the
pale emaciated figures while living
and cheer them with their kindly
presence and love. And if there is tt
any reviewing of the remains, i
should be done in the undertaking
parors or in the house before any
comes to the wearing of black wells
, afterwards, is it not selfish custom
, For why should one constantly parade
his mourning before other people an(
make them canny and sorrowful?
seems to me that this old world ha!
sorrow enough without my forcing my
sorrow upon all who are around me
1t seems to me that the Chinese are
more true to the teaching of the Chris
: tian faith in this regard than are thu
Christians themselves, when instead o.
wearing black, they wear white as
token of their sorrow. Christ came il
order that ''He might bring life ant
Immortality to light in His gospel.
He said, ''I'm the resurrection ant
the life" He says. "Thy dead shall
live again." Why then should W.
.. live for six months or year a
though we did not believe these state
ments of the King, eternal, immorta
: and invisible? | wish that we nigh
become progressive people in regar'
to funeral ceremonies as we'll as il
material things of life. l wish tina
it might soon become a universal prac
tice to depart from these customs O
the days of darkness. l wish that tn
desires of DR.. Leonard might be heed
ed by all our citizenship in the future
Very sincerely yours.
B. z. Mccullough.
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