FUNERAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 259, 10 April 1875, Page 4

FUNERAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the general committee of the above association was held yesterday afternoon, at the 'Jouncil Chambers, to receive the sub committee’s report. Present—The Very Rev the Dean, the Revs W. J. Habens, H. C. M. Watson, and Canon Cotterill, Sir Cracroft Wilson, C. R. Blakeston, George Gordon (hon sec), B. Worthy, P. De C. Malet, and H. Packer. The secretary read the following report brought up by the sub-committee : “ The sub-committee desire, in the first place, to express their regret that their report has been so long delayed. The occurrence of the Christmas holidays very soon after their appointment, and other circumstances which it is unnecessary to particularise, combined to cause this delay. The result, however, has been beneficial, as fuller opportunity has been given for inquiry and deliberation, and the somewhat crude ideas on the subject of funeral reform, with which the members of the sub-committee began their work, are now better digested, and their recommendations will be of a more definite character than would probably have been the case had they made their report at a much earlier date. They have set on foot inquiries in various directions, but their thanks are chiefly due to the committee appointed at Dunedin for a similar purpose, and to its honorary secretary, Mr B. C. Quick, from whom much valuable information has been received. The result of their inquiries and deliberations is that, while they have no hesitation in urging that immediate efforts should be made to set on foot a Funeral Reform Association in this province, they cannot recommend that the association should become possessed of property, or enter into contracts, as is proposed at Dunedin. They recommend, in preference, that the pattern of the association formed for the same purpose at Sydney should be followed, the basis of which is a simple declaration. The members of the association should appoint a committee for the purpose of collecting information, watching the progress of the movement in other places, conferring with undertakers, &c,, the committee to report to the association at an annual meeting. To defray the working expenses of such a committee, only a very small annual subscription would be required from the members of the association. The sub-committee have reason to believe that some of the individuals at present engaged in the business of undertakers are more or less disposed to fall in with the views of the committee, and to furnish funerals in the style proposed to be adopted by the association, as hereinafter described; and, although they are not quite prepared to make any definite recommendation on this point, they have had under consideration a suggestion to the effect that the association should grant certificates of approval, or an appointment to act as undertakers to the association, to such members of the trade as would be willing to conform to its principles and rules. “The sub-committee are not prepared as yet to urge upon the members of the proposed association the absolute discontinuance of the use of the hearse; but they strongly recommend the general employment of a

simpler and less costly vehicle, such ns either a bier to be drawn by hand, w'hich is the conveyance generally used, they believe, by burial associations in England, or something of the description of an American express waggon, with a covering oi some sort, to be used in bad weather. Such a light waggon is already occasionally employed by more than one of the undertakers in Christchurch. “ The sub-committee have not lost sight of the kindred subject of mourning apparel, and on this point they have taken steps to enlist the sympathy and assistance of the ladies of the community; but as they anticipate a greater variety of opinion on this matter than on the mode of conducting funerals, they recommend that it should form the subject of a separate declaration. ‘‘With these prefatory observations, the subcommittee now proceed to make the following definite recommendations for the consideration of the general committee:— “ I. That a meeting be convened at an early date of persons interested in the formation of a Funeral Reform Association. “11. That the following be the principal resolutions to be submitted to the proposed meeting;— “I, That an association be formed, to be called “ The Christchurch Funeral Reform Association.” “ 2. That all persons desirous of doing so may become members of the association by the payment of an annual subscription of half a-crown, and by signing a declaration to the undermentioned effect, namely—That in all funerals over which they may have control they will adopt a plain and inexpensive style of coffin; will discontinue the employment of mutes, the use of palls, mourning coaches, scarfs and hatbands, and the providing of gloves; that hearses, if employed, should not carry plumes, and that the horses should bear neither plumes, nor clothes, nor trappings of any kind. “ 3. That a further declaration be signed by those who may desire to do so, to the following effect;—That they will themselves discontinue, and, as far as possible, encourage the discontinuance by others of unnecessary and expensive mourning. “ 4. That the following persons, with power to add to their number, be appointed a committee, for the purpose of collecting information on the subjects of Funeral and Mourning Reform, watching the progress of the movement in other places, conferring with undertakers and the like, and that they be requested to report to a general meeting of members of the association, to be convened by them sometime in the month of April, 1876, or earlier, if thought desirable, namely:— “ The sub-committee’respectfully submit the foregoing recommendations to the consideration of the general committee, “ By order of the sub-committee, “Henry Jacobs, “ Chairman. “ Christchurch, April 9th, 1875.” In reply to Mr Packer, the Dean said that some of the undertakers had agreed to perform the most economical kind of funerals at £4 10s each. Rev H. C, M. Watson believed a larger number of persons would join the association if a certain rule relating to mourning were prescribed, as if they were then expected to conform to the present fashion, they could reply that they had to adopt the rules of the association. The Dean was of opinion that if this course were pursued, it would prevent many from joining. This bad been the case in Dunedin, where the movement was nearly being shipwrecked by the style of mourning being prescribed by the committee of the association started there. Canon Cotterill agreed with Mr Watson’s views. The Dean said that, as would be seen in the report, the style of mourning to be adopted by ladies had been submitted to a ladies’ committee, as the sub-committee did not consider themselves competent to lay down a rule regarding the ladies. It would, he thought, be as well to rest satisfied with the suggestions as to mourning at present laid down, and further action could be taken in this direction at a future time. Rev J. W. Habens said he did not believe in the vitality of such movements, and would prefer that a thoroughly matured scheme should be submitted, which would also include the ladies. The public at the present time were in a mood to receive reform in this direction, and from experience he knew the necessity of taking action in such matters by spurts. In twelve months hence they might not be able to create such public interest as now existed, and the question might be allowed to drop. He would prefer that a fully matured report should be brought up even if it took six months to prepare it. Mr Worthy did not believe in binding down people to any particular style of dress, and considered they should be educated in this respect until their good sense induced them to fall in with the views of the association. To attempt to compel people to adopt one style of mourning would he thought be injudicious. The chairman spoke of the difficulty that would be experienced in getting persons to bind themselves to adopt any particular style of dress. Personally he would be satisfied with wearing crape on his arm, but he was desirous of taking a course which would be most acceptable to the majority, and would bring most members to the association. Rev Mr Habens thought he had been misunderstood, he did not desire that any of the members should be bound by a declaration to adopt any particular style of mourning, but be felt when they came before the public it should be at one bound, and with a fully matured scheme. The Dean considered there was a great deal in what Mr Habens had said, but there was, he thought, sufficient vitality in the movement to carry it over a year; and it was not necessary that they should defer coming definitely before the public for a year, as the report suggested they might meet earlier. It might require some delay to bring forward a definite scheme, as before doing so they would first have to receive suggestions from the ladies’ committee. ! Rev H. O. M. Watson was opposed to temporising with the matter, as those persons whom they were then considering, might be the first to make the simple style suggested, an expensive one. The Chairman would submit to the meeting whether it would not be advisable to defer consideration of the report until suggestions were received from the ladies’ committee. In the meantime to let it be understood that all persons desirous of adopting a more simple style of mourning than the present, would have the hearty support of the association. Mr Packard was under the impression that there were many persons who would gladly

join the association if there was a prescribed style laid down. The Deansaid of the committeethat further consideration of the report should be deferred until the suggestions had been received from the ladies’ committee, he thought it would perhaps be as well for the sub-committee to wait until the receipt of these, when they could bring up a more definite scheme. The Rev Mr Habens’ name was added to to the list of the sub-committee, and after some furtherremarks the committee adjourned until Friday, 30th April.