COSTLY OBSEQUIES.

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3185, 7 August 1930, Page 5

COSTLY OBSEQUIES.

Sir,' —One reads of a certain English parish priest who in his parish paper makes a protest against our modern ideas of funerals and expensive coffins. It is time such a protest was made. Why elaborate headstones are put up, expensive coffins provided for the dead, and a large collection of costly wreaths borne to every grave is hard to understand. Is it because of our materialistic minds ? A small knowledge of the Scriptures will prove to us that the body which is taken to the grave is not the dear one whom we mourn, but merely the body by which he expressed himself while here on earth. That the body should be taken and reverently buried every right thinking person will agree. But to take the body and bury it with much pomp and outward show, accompanied with a lavish expense, does that mean reverence or respect? Very often the expense of a funeral is a burden which some find hard to bear; taking in some cases months and even years to pay off. Even if this is not so, could not the money which is spent on elaborate headstones, expensive coffins and costly wreaths, be put to a better use. Much money is spent on burying the dead bodies, while thousands of the living are crying out for the bare necessities of life.

It seems to me that this waste of money on our dead is wicked. They, with their greater knowledge, would protest against it if they were able to make us understand. If we feel the need of commemorating the memory of our dear ones departed, why not do so in a useful way, e.g., building a hospital ward, or giving a cot to a hospitl, building a church or placing some piece of furniture in a church, an altar, pulpit or lectern? Such things could be dedicated to the memory of our departed, and at the same time serve a useful purpose. On the other hand, a headstone is useless, an expensive and beautiful coffin loses all its beauty five minutes after it is covered with soil; costly wreaths wither and die quickly, and in no time are most unattractive. Let us get away from such wickedness and remember that our dear ones are alive and that one day we shall meet them again. They are gone on a journey and we shall follow.—l am, GtC " K.D.A.