MINISTERS AND FUNERAL OCCASIONS.
By Wolcott H. Littlejohn
There is one call which the minister receives that is imperative in its character, and leaves him but very little discretionary power. This call is the summons to preach the funeral discourse of a friend and neighbor, and sometimes of a perfect stranger. The duty is a sad one, and yet, if properly improved, it affords an opportunity to reach hearts seldom equaled. It becomes, therefore, very important that everything should be so conducted as to make the occasion in all respects a success in the matter of impressing the living with the necessity of making the needed preparation to meet the change which all must sooner or later experience. In order that this may be done, there are several things which the friends of the deceased should bear in mind. Among them is the fact that ministers—especially in regions where they have often preached—require all the time that can be given them for the preparation of a discourse. Occasionally a clergyman can be found who requires but a few moments of thought after the selection of his text to qualify him to enter the desk and discharge the duties of his profession. Such men, however, are very scarce, and not unfrequently quite superficial. The average preacher does his best only when he has an opportunity to reflect and methodize. This being the case, it is obvious that the first duty which devolves upon the relatives in whose family the death may have occurred, is that of selecting the individual whom they would prefer to have officiate, and then notifying him as soon as possible of their choice, the time and place of the funeral, &c. Should they have a preference in the matter of the text employed, or should it be true that the deceased had made a selection of the same, either on his death-bed or previous to that time, then the minister should be apprised of the choice made, and consulted as to the propriety of the selection. This is necessary, because should the scriptures recommended prove to be suitable, he will need ample time—they being altogether new to him—to elaborate the sermon to be constructed upon them as a basis. We would suggest, however, that ordinarily it would be far better to leave the matter of the selection of the scriptures which are to furnish the foundation of his remarks wholly with the preacher who is expected to speak. We do so because we are aware that while some texts are very suggestive to the minds of some they are wholly unfruitful to those of other men. Not only so, but it not unfrequently occurs that the choice of either friends or the deceased, is not well taken, and that it is also capricious and perhaps fanciful in the extreme. Within our own experience, we have known passages of Scripture to be suggested for such purposes that would baffle the ingenuity of the shrewdest man in the effort to determine how it came to be hit upon, or how it could be used for the purposes of a discourse. In addition to the above, it might be remarked that it is the duty, either of the friends or the individual who is to take charge of the funeral, to see to it that the minister is provided with a suitable conveyance in which to ride to the place of meeting, and return therefrom to his own home. This is true from the fact that if he is not in possession of a horse and buggy, he either has not the leisure time to provide a conveyance for himself, or he might be unable to incur the necessary expense of obtaining what he desired from a livery stable. He would also feel a degree of hesitation in taking such a step at the expense of the friends without being authorized by them so to do. Should we in conclusion venture additional suggestions, they would be two in number. The first of them would relate to the individual conducting the funeral, and those acting as bearers. And the second, to the nature of the discourse to be employed. It is proverbial that funerals drag. In other words, that they consume more time than the circumstances require. The occasion of this may, we think, generally be found in unnecessary delay at the house of the deceased. It is seldom the case that a funeral cortege reaches the church until long after the appointed time. The occasion of the delay at the house of the friends is generally attributable to their neglect to be ready for the services in their own house at the hour fixed upon, or to the absence of one or more of the bearers selected. So far as the friends are concerned, the only remedy which can be offered will be found in an effort on the part of those whose attention is called to the subject—should they ever be so unfortunate as to stand in the place of mourners—to do all in their power to remedy the evil. But as it regards the matter of the bearers who may be behindhand, we think it would be every way justifiable, as well as desirable, for the individual having charge of the funeral to substitute for them other persons who may be present, thereby avoiding a necessity for delay. What we have to say in reference to the discourse is simply this: We think that some ministers make a grave mistake in seizing the opportunity offered by a funeral, to deliver themselves of a purely doctrinal sermon. Especially is this true when the doctrine involved relates wholly and abstractly to the state of the dead. Such persons seem to forget, first, that the mourners are generally divided in sentiment on the subject, and therefore it would be exceedingly painful for some of them to have the occasion devoted wholly to the propagation of what they regard as error; second, that both the mourners and those of the congregation who enter into the spirit of the occasion, are not in a mood to listen to cold argumentation, be it never so close and sound. All the circumstances and surroundings appeal to a man's emotional, rather than to his intellectual, nature. If, therefore, the minister would succeed, let him make himself master of the situation by running in his remarks with, instead of against, the popular feeling. In doing this, it will not be necessary for him to ignore altogether his own convictions in reference to the state of the dead; for he will find opportunity indirectly, if not directly, in a few well-chosen words, to shadow forth his own sentiments. And those words, instead of begetting strife and creating disgust, will commend themselves to the consideration of those who have discovered in him a man capable of harmonizing his action with the proprieties of the time and place.