A SPIRITUALIST FUNERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3367, 20 November 1872, Page 5

A SPIRITUALIST FUNERAL.

f ffartnwjcr of Light. J

Mrs Grubb } nominally a member of the Church of England, but who haa recently shown a preference for the moru liberal ideas expounded by Mr Leech, died at Castletnaine last month ; and, having refused to see a clergyman during her illness, the Archdeacon refused to bury her. Under these circumstances, the duty devolved upon the Universalists, and was conducted after the form adopted by Spiritualists. A correspondent sends us an account of the ceremony, as follqws:—

" The body was carried down in the hearse, and followed in the usual style by many vehicles to the cemetery at Campbell's Crefck, where many of the Universalist members, including several ladies belonging to the choir, met it at the entrance gates, Mr Leech, who kindly conducted the service, walking in front of the coffin until it reached the grave made for its reception. The coffin was placed on trestles close to it, and a handsome bouquet of flowerslaidupon the top, thechoir, members, and the deceased's friends, forming a circle round* Mr Leech gaveout the 18th hymn in the collection—'Far from those narrow scenes of night.' Mr Leech then read from the 15 th chapter of Ist Corinthians, commencing at the 35th verse ; he then offered a most beautiful prayer for the welfare and blessing of those beloved ones left behind—her husband and children ; after that the 32nd hymn was sung, as was the former one, by the choir ('Death is tho fading of a cloud,') many joining in. A benediction beingpronounced by Mr Leech, the cofh'n was lowered to its restingplace,andthefriendsshowereddown upon it quantities of beautiful flowers, a basketful being provided by one of the members, and it was handed round to all who chose to avail themselves of showing a parting mark of love and respect for the departed one. One marked feature at the attendance was the entire absence of theußualhabilimentsof mourning amongst those of the friends who are avowed Spiritualists ; even the ladies possessed the moral courage to run counter to the prevailing fashion of dressing in black ; the gentlemen wearing their hats during the whole service."