FUNERAL REBUKE

Evening Star, Issue 19004, 28 July 1925, Page 4

FUNERAL REBUKE

SEASIDE VICAR AND “BEVY OF CURIOUS GIRLS.” The vicar of St. John’s, Moordown, Bournemouth, the Rev. Sinclair Curton, has given orders that in future at funerals the churchyard gates are to be closed until the arrival of the hearse. ]u his ‘Parish Magazine he says; “People who have clearly come out ol rude curiosity will he refused admittance.” He appeals for a much greater degree of reverence and respect at funerals, and adds; “Only a lew clays ago 1 had to strongly rebuke a bevy of curious girls with prams insolently intruding their colored clothes and their gaping and chattering mouths between the minister and the approaching corpse.” Only relations and friends ought to he admitted to the church at burial times, he states, and so little children should never bo taken to a funeral if it can be possibly avoided. In an interview the vicar said he felt very keenly on the question, and lie had "made his protest in the hope that the behaviour of some persons would bo more respectful in the future. “I think it is horrible,” lie said, “to see these girls running up close to the funeral party and gazing openly upon their grief.”