VICAR’S BURIAL MODE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1930, Page 12

VICAR’S BURIAL MODE

“TUCK ME IN AN OPEN BOX.”

“Nearly all our death customs are an abomination to me. They do not seem to express either simple emotion or hope. When my times comes let me be buried within 24 hours.” Thus the Rev. A. J. Wheeler, vicai’ of Thursley, Surrey, writing on funerals in his magazine. He goes on: “Let tho service be in the evening, say at S p.m. A coffin made of rough boards, not stained or varnished, without lid or bilge for the shoulders, no brass fittings or plate with my name,, which everybody knows. In fact just an open box made by anybody with a saw and a hammer in half an hour.

“Therein let my people, not hired men, tuck me, wearing cassock and surplice. Let me take a Bible, Prayer ißook and my Communion set, and, as I there’ll be plenty of room in such a [coffin, I’d like a few of the books which stood by my bedside; and don't forget my hot water bottle, which has soothed many a bad pain. “And don’t talk about the miseries of this sinful world, but thank God for tho joy and the glory of the sunrise—tho sweet birds, the spring .flowers, the wind on the heath, and the love of friends. “A small stone with nothing on it but my name, to mark the site. Thus let my friends say goodbye and wish me luck in the new adventure.” Such a procedure, he points out, would save about £5O, which could be used to help families who were finding life’s journey rather hal’d.