THE SALVATION ARMY AND FUNERAL 'REFORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12620, 1 October 1901, Page 6

THE SALVATION ARMY AND FUNERAL 'REFORM.

TO,TUB EDITOE. Sir, —Funeral refevm- is taken .up heartily by the • .Salvation Army. In, the “ Orders and Regulations,” General Booth says: “AH’our soldiers should refuse to follow the ordinary fashion of wearing black dress, crape, or any other such things,' in order to, set forth their, grief on account of the •loss which they haws suffered, which is known as mourning. This als ; t> apiplies to the use, of 'beaa’se-s, mourning coaches and 'hired! undertakers’ mem to take part ■in a ceremonial with which they have no sympathy beyond that of getting paid for it.’’ The reasons npon which these conclusions are based are set forth at length. The employment of the pageantry of woe is condemned because it is unhealthy; and thecustomary mourning usages are to; be disregarded onf the ground that they are a 1 needless expense. “ Such a • visitation .as that of death,” observes the General, ‘‘-is usually an expensive one, and there is no money tio spare to waste upon a custom that is in itself useless and unprofitable.". We of the Burial Reform Association value veay highly this endorsement of cur work, and commend it to your readers.—l am, etc., F. LAWRENCE, Hon Sec. WestoW Vicarage, 1 York, August 14, 1901.