Year: 1872

rastsng-p1ace has been de- veloped by one Of New
forks latest murder cases. A girl known as
Maud Merrill was shot dead in house OF pros
tltution in which shf, had been living. Her his
tory seems to bave been one OF peculiar
sadness. Her life Of shame had not ex-
tended over the space Of more than a
year. There waa evidence at the Co2oners in
quest indicating that her uncle, who WIS her
murderer, was atso her seducer. She had been
engaged aa q servant at private houses, and it
WAS ntlmated that this uncle had not only Sc
duced her, but had taken from her all the money
which she could earn. This treatment finally
drove her out Of SERVICE and she took refuge in
house OF ill-fame. After her uncle had found
her whereabouts, he continued to visit her there
and to demand the money which she received,
going so far as to question the other inmates in
regard to the SUMS abe had earned. The mur-
der took place in Nauds room, and it is sup
posed that it IVES the result Of her REFUSAL or OF
hef inability to furnish him with any more
funds. The story has some significance
IN connection with the circumstance that
search Was long made in vain to find
clergyman who would consent to give tho de-
ceased 3 Christian buria1 Her life Of shame
WIS notorious the more notorious On account
OF the tragic manner in which it terminated.
But it is an Important question for Christian
Churches to determine, whether their ministers
are acting in consonance With the spirit Of their
calling when they refuge to extend the formal
decencies which friends Of the dead usually de-
sire to observe in consigning the body to DUST
Shall the minister Of the Lord undertake to de-
te1mine the extent Of the Lords mercy; how far
the sinner may have heen sinned against how
much or little the misfortunes Of life shall 1ait-
gate vice; where Christian charity ahan begin
and where it shall end2 Ig the refusal to give
the traditional consolation Of minister's preB-
ence at the grave Of ~rourtesan
in keeping with the Sarior's treat
ment Of Magdalen2 Or is the Magdalen story
an Interpolation and myth? Is it following
the injunction to judge not lest ye be Judged?
The minister's calling has duties that are more
clearly defined than those Of Any other profess
sion. It is his vocation to bring words Of COM
fort,consolat ion, and hope to whomsoeyer he
can. It is his province to encourage Christian
forgiveness and charity. It is his place to
sooth the suffe1ings, calm the emotions, and
reconcile the trials OF an erring people, wherever
and whenever he can. II possible, the minister
Of the Lord should have more to do with sin than
man in another calling. Who knows but that
one Of the several ministers who refused to
oficiate at the funeral Of the unfortunate Maud
Merrill might not have uttered words that would
have led her comrades to repentance, or have
pointed.out practical means Of reform? Had
any minister Of the Church right to neglect


such an opportunity for extending the claims Of
religion and improving the morals Of the COM
munity7 It will scarcely be denied that minis


terH are frequently called upon to deliver eu1oges


over bodies Of deceased men and women who


we're not purer than Maud Merrill, but whose
half-hidden vices lent more nockery to the oc-
casions than her unfortunate notoriety could
possibly have brought out at her grave. It is
probable that simple but impressive services


over her body would have produced solemnity


and intensity Of feeling rarely discovered at
large and fashionable funerals. The neglect to
use this opportunity for doing practical good
may be the direct means Of doing practical
harm, by creating an impression Of the hollow
ness Of Christian charity among the very
classes who hare most need to believe in it.