| Show FUNERALS simplicity and an absence of an all show and parade advocated none I 1 presume will attempt to deny the fact that we have wandered very far from that simplicity and plainness that should characterize the lives limps and conduct of latter day saints as can be seen in our conr dress as well as in our manner of laving generally and last but not least in our funeral trappings and appointments I 1 ara am fully aware of the grave responsibility I 1 am assuming in entering upon the sacred domain of the dead and how quickly the relatives and friends of ded deceased eased persons will resent any criticisms in relation to their treatment of their loved ones after death but it Is the very absence of sacredness or consistency sis tency in many such instances that prompts me to write upon this subject and the growing tendency to not only perpetuate but increase what I 1 conceive to be a wrong in this direction I 1 make bold to venture a few thoughts upon the subject bin at in regard to the clothing of our adult dead we have a pattern of habiliments in which to enshroud them which lis is both chaste and simple this pattern we have no desire to curtail or elaborate or in any one particular to change or alter and far be it irom from me to forbid a loving mother the satisfaction of clothing her darling child the last act that she can perform for it on earth in a manner that shall fully satisfy her hearts affection unless indeed she should transcend the bounds of all property for while the spirit that quickened the tabernacle has fled and gone to god who gave it is not the body left entirely to our care and does it not belong to us to make a final disposition ol of it as perta pertaining inin g to this his earth most certainly and this brings me to the point at issue says the forup fond mother the loving wi fethe devoted husband Noth nothing ingis is wo too good too costly for our dear one we must get the very best I 1 I 1 and it is now abow that fashion band and style taking advantage of our sorrow and grief creep in making successful encroach ments which at any other time would meet with a just resentment and rebuke the most praet practical ical men at stich times often lose their equilibrium entirely entirely y I 1 will give an example seve several ri years ago I 1 accompanied a friend of mine to the undertakers to arrange for the burial of an only daughter a lovely young woman and the pride of her fathers heart the undertaker in showing him samples of coffins remarked 1 I know your feelings sir upon this subject which were as he had of ten expressed himself that when he be died he be wanted only thel the plainest and most inexpensive coffin and a quiet funeral to which he be replied with tears rolling down his cheeks it is not myself that is dead now but ray my darling daughter dau liter I 1 want the best you have who 71 ho could say aay anything at such a time I 1 certainly did not feel like iland the undertaker above all others wo would old have been out of place had he suggested a careful expenditure pend iture when a costly casket was ordered with appropriate mountings and trimmings winding up with an order for ten carriages for the funeral when the family 7 all told could only occupy apy four f 0 ur of them now this man worked tor for daily wages and was only in what we term ino moderate circumstances this was not the end of it either for in less than three years their father tied lied I 1 was present at his funeral and one of his sons remarked to nad re we have endeavored to have fathers casket as near like nay my sisters as possible for you know father selected hers himself 11 since then the mother has died and was bugled in a casket much more elaborate and costly than either of the other two this unquestionably tion ably is only a sample of many similar cases that may be quoted but will answer the present pur purpose pope the parade that Is made at many f funerals which are generally conducted in one of our public halls hadis involving a costly expenditure expend itu re for mourning and the exposure of the she laces of ohr dead to the public gazo gaze seem to me in the main to be altogether unnecessary and out of place and partakes more of the character of a show than a sacred gathering our speakers too have thought in some instances influenced perhaps by the spirit of the surround ins ing shave been unconsciously betrayed into unwise eui eulogies ogies and alto altogether ether unnecessary and sometimes questionable at the rate of droga progress ess we are making in this direction liow abow long will it be be before foremen men will be sol solicited 1 cited to deliver funeral orations because of their knon ability as alegani elega at speakers and noth nothing ing more and professional fess ional singers be employed to discourse classical 1 requiems over our dead all of which is in keeping with this spirit of pomp and show and which I 1 view as a grown tg ig evil in our midst and is creating another class distinction which cannot be too closely guarded against the examples ot two of our late revered presidents first george A smith who by his own request was buried in a plain coffin coffia made of our mountain wood and afterwards brigham young who enjoined it upon h his I 1 fain family ily that they should wear only their already made up clothing at his f funeral are aie a ie certainly worthy of our imitation imite tion and preach sermons louaner than any I 1 words either spoken or writt written en could possibly do I 1 heard president george Q cannon remark some years gago ago when called upon to speak at a f funeral ane to me at such times silence is the greatest eloquence carr carry this sentiment still farther fanner and we will say I 1 expensive funeral trappings and ostentatious display are certai certainly not in keep keeping ng with such occasions but th very antipodes antipodes of consi consistency and gooe taste not that anything any thins we cai can s d or do can change the condition conditi oti of oay eay dead for their record is made and baur not ge be altered by y any acts or wordan ours but customs are gaining up of us in this regard which have hail th their el r origin in babylon and they as ha hamlet says would oe de more howled in the breach than in the observance the example the jews set us in the burial of their dead is certainly worthy of consideration it if not imitation were a rothschild to be buried today to day the same simplicity that char acte the burial of a jewish peasant were he an orthodox jew both in regard to clothing and funeral appointments would be observed in his case which certainly would not bo be fot for the want of money but from the recognition of a philosophical fact that the grave knows no distinctions as well as a s the custom of his tribe for ages sunday too is a day above all others that is chosen for the burial of our dead no pains or expense is spared in many instances to preserve their natural appearance for days in order that that the funeral may take place on the sabbath while others who die at the end of the week seemingly must be buried on OB that day these sabbath funerals generally attract a multitude of curiosity seekers many of whom may ingy perhaps have no intimate acquaintance with the person dead nor any particular sympathy with the bereaved livery stables on this day are in consequence often heavily taxed to supply the demand for carriages and buggies street hicks hacks are pressed into service while the owners of private conveyances f feel eel in duty daty bound to respond to a call that nobody wishes to refuse though it be on the sabbath day not only are sabbath meetings neglected but gods holy sacrament also by the friends as well as the acquaintances of the deceased who feel that even on that holy day everything must be negle neglected eted to show respect to the dead that are going to be buried here again jewish example is worthy of consideration for they do not deviate from a practice made sacred by centuries of time but avoid b burying ur I 1 ng their dead on their sabbath whit which is is our 8 saturday at ur ay the excuse which some offer fe r I 1 is that that everybody is at af liberty on that day and a great many have not time to attend funerals on the week day to which I 1 reply by asking if they will find time to die itis it is this show and parade and more especially on the sabbath day against which I 1 wish to enter my most solemn protest as not being at au all in harmony with the spirit t f our holy religion says one are friere berc no exceptions to be made to ta which aich I 1 answer yes the force of circumstances at times for instance in the case of contagious couta IOUS disease compels us to deviate irom from the best established rules and I 1 would be loth to see inaugurated inaugurate 2 a system of things that would ata atall all partake of the spirit that prevailed in medo persian times for it is certainly lawful to do good on the sabbath day and I 1 am willing to concede every reasonable exception but nothing more again there are men and women also who belong not only to their family but to a ward perchance a stake or to all zion who possess the esteem and affection of those whom they have faithfully served in places of public trust and responsibility in either a civil or ecclesiastical capacity or both and these desire to do them reverence when dead in such cases I 1 am in favor of ample opportunity being given tor for this purpose but this class generady gene rahy desire that their funerals be conducted in a quiet and modest manner and often leave written instructions to this effect it appears to me that the sacred precinct of home is a more fitting place to conduct the last rites and ceremonies of the private citizen or the local members of the church or the priesthood but more especially the child who perhaps received its life lin fin that aery V ery home it is in vain upon these occasions that we wa bid the fountains fount aias of grief be dried for the tears will flow and the sorrow will re main until relieved by time and circumstance cum stance these are too sacred to be touched or in the least degree criticized and I 1 haye have many times seen the longing desire which in a few instances has found vent in words like leave me alone for a few moments wi withey t I 1 my dead which means 1 let atme me takouhe last look imprint the last t kiss and shed my tears unseen all ot of which are nothing more than the outflow flowing out ings of natures purest and holiest hollest feelings let me ask then how little in keeping are the costliest cost liest trappings and the showy displays that we too often indulge in upon these occasions I 1 might advert also to the expense in evolved which many are but poorly prepared to meet or if they were how much wiser it would be to use the means for the benefit of the living out dut to line t me a financial position on this quest question iob though highly proper would be the poorest part of the argument some may contend that I 1 have overdrawn the picture to which I 1 reply that after close observation I 1 not if it should be however wait a while at the rate oi of progress we are making in this direction it will not be long before the picture will but meagerly represent the facts AU all I 1 aim at is that we should should in this one thing as well as in all the krestof our conduct in life practice that simplicity 7 which the gospel inculcates an and which alone is pleasing to angels and to god consistency salt lake city may 1901 1887 |
