Funeral Reform.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2956, 21 July 1888, Page 2

Funeral Reform.

I am very pleased to note that a Burial, Funeral and Mourning Reform Association lias bom started in Lon- • don. The Association has been founded, it appears, to contract the . evils which have grown round the customery mode of interment. Those evils, it appears, lmve mainly arisen from a natural and laudable desire to pay honor to the departed; but the manner in which that desire has been commonly manifested not only involves an expenditure wholly out of propor- - tion to its object, but in many cases beyond the means of the surviving relatives. The ther&re, strongly urges the following gjP&c : . reform! —l, The exercise of economy and simplicity in everything apper-, ' taming to the funeral, 2. Jk use of plain hearses ,or wh®. biers. 0, The avoiding of excessive decoration. 4. The disuse of crape, ' scarves, feathers, velvet trappings, and ■« : the like. 5. Tlie discouraging, on the occasion of the. funeral, as far as pos- ' " sible, of all eating and drinking beyond that of everyday life. r-tf.,The meeting m the churchyard or cemetery instead of in the house of mourning, 7. The dispelling of the idea that all '" the olub money must bo spent on the : funeral, 8, The early interment of :: the body in soil sufficient and suitable " ; for its resolution to , its ultimate ele- : - ments. 9. The use of such materials ; for the coffin as will rapidly decay - after burial. N.E—This method is ' . in accordance with the laws of nature ■ and avoids sanitary evils, while tho ' practice of burying in almost imper- ' ishable coffins is fraught with dan» to the, public health, 10, W encouragement on sanitary grounlf A of the removal, in crowded: districts,', " of the body to a mortuary, instead of ' retaining it in the roomß occupied by (he living. 11. The substitution of a burial plot surrcundedjby copin» for family vaults. 12. The impressing upon workhouse officials tho claims ol t , PI? 3 ''° P ro P er and reverent burial. The council are happy to state that the above principles are already - being acted upon by many in high social positions; and earnestly ap f eaj,'

• to tlio wealthier classes, whose exaw'plo bas so powerful an influence, to . give practical effect to thorn; and in order to render this easior to their sur- . viving relatives or executors, to leave clear and strict injunctions in writing thatthe utmost simplicity and economy be observed in their funerals.'—Auckland Observer.