FUNERAL REFORM

Evening Star, Issue 3876, 27 July 1875, Page 2

FUNERAL REFORM

The meeting at the Temperance HkH yeeter* day afternoon for the purpose of taking Inte consideration the expensive and oppressive n^ ur ® pf the present style of mourning, was attended by between forty and fifty ladies, Bishop Nevill, Archdeacon Edwards, the Rev, Mr Penny, and the Rev. Mr lligg. The Yen. Archdeacon Edwaedb explained ttio object of the meeting and mentioned that a similar movement was taking place at Christ* church. He read an extract from the ‘ Queen,’ from which we take the following; “A resolute endeavor is to be at length made to bring about a reform of our ridiculous, inconvenient, and costly mourning customs, so entirely unsuited for the habits of a time when the multiplied occupations of the living forbid the dedication of years to the dead. Apart from the absurdity of clothing an entire family—including the servants and horses—m black for six months for a relative, not of the household, for whom the principal possibly oaied little, and the domestics not at all, is the ruinous expense, and beyond the expense is the discomfort. If it be the misfortune of a man to have many relatives, he is condemned to mourning for the greater part of bis life. It has long been felt that the only means by which a more rational and convenient practice ef mounting could be introduced will be by association, and a society has been established for the purpose of bringing about this most desirable reform. It proposes to accomplish that object by a few simple regulations as to mourning, which all the members will consent to observe. These will simply limit ‘ moun iag ’ to the heads of the family. Servants are in no case to be clothed in block, and children are to ‘mourn* only for their parents, brothers, or sisters. Mourning may also be indicated, as it is in the army, by crape round the aim with men, and a black sash or trimming* with women.”

Some discussion then took place, after whieh The Right Rev. Dr Nevill pointed out that greater weight would be attached to any resolution on the subject of reforming mourning customs if the meeting formed itself into an association; otherwise, it would be regarded as the opinion of a certain number of lames. A motion was proposed by Mrs H. S. Chapman, seconded by Mrs James Smith “ That an association of ladies in Dunedin and throughout the Province be formed, to be called the Funeral Reform Association,” whieh was earned unanimously. The election for president and secretary then took place, Mrs Strode being appointed to the former office, Mrs Muir to-the latter. resolution, as passed by the Association, was then proposed: —‘ The Ladies’ Committee is of opinion that would be unwise to exact from members of the Funeral Reform Association a pledge that they will adopt any set form of mourning; but they will promise for themselves, and endeavor to induce others, to adopt a less oppressive style of mourning than that now generally worn—especially to discourage the use of crape as unnecessary and expensive. They are decidedly of opinion that people’s own feelings will best suggest what they should wear, and that to lay down any rigid rule of mourning would bo to create a tyranny of custom as great as that which now prevails.” An amendment was proposed, that for the words “ to discourage the use of crape ” there be substituted “ discuutenance the use ol crapebut on a division it'was lost by nineteen to twenty-five votes, and the resolution was carried and ordered to be printed. The following ladies then gave in their names as members of the Association;—lsabel Stanley. Janet 0. Baldwin, Jessie Towsey, Emily 0. Strode, Aureliga Muir, Selina F. Chapman, Mario Jeanne Hawthorne, Abigail Bell, Elizabeth Bigg, Clara Abigail Bell, Ellen Weston, Emma Walter, C. Hardy, M. Collinson, A. H. Maitland, M. Howorth, Sarah Little, Jane Little, R. S. Reynolds, Jane Bathgate, Mary Bathgate, N. C. Ashcroft, J, M. Wheeler, J, A. West, I. Jago, M. Jago, Sarah Roseby, Maria Burrows, A. Corfield, Louise Smith. Alice A. E. Penny, Elizabeth Miller, Dora Cargill, JaneM‘Lean, and Mary Nevill,