PARK AND CEMETERY. 
157 
A recent fire that destroyed the barns at “Spring Grove,” 
caused the absence of Mr. Salway, one of the charter members 
who seldom misses a meeting. 
Messrs. Dix, Green and Carroll composing the local execu- 
tive committee filled their trusts with credit to themselves and 
with pleasure to their guests. 
Suggestions for future executive committees: Fewer pa- 
pers, more well directed discussion and more object lessons 
will insure more practical results. An exhibition of photo- 
graphs, drawings, plans, etc., properly arranged would be in- 
structive and interesting. 
The banquet on second night of meeting and final adjourn- 
ment at close of morning sesrion on third day would insure the 
greatest amount of pleasure to the greatest number. 
A trite question for the “Ouestion Box,” would be; “What 
reforms have you introduced as a result of membership in the 
Association?” It has been observed that reformers do not al- 
ways reform. 
THE SUNDAY FUNERAL.— FUNERAL CAR.* 
Mr. President and Members of the American Association of Ceme- 
tery Superintendents; 
It is well known that for years past the “Sunday Funeral” 
has been discussed in public print, and in many of j our con- 
ventions, and that it has been opposed also for years by the 
clergy, funeral directors and cemetery officials. The result of 
this steady discussion and opposition is, that the “Sunday Fun- 
eral” is gradually becoming more and more unpopular, whilst 
it is now prohibited by many cemetery managements through- 
out the countrj’. 
Among all funeral reforms suggested, and found necessary 
for the enforcement of cemetery decorum', none is more needed 
than that in connection with Sunday Funerals. Rtform in this 
respect will stop at nothing short of their discontinuance, ex- 
ceptions being allowed only in favor of burials that for sanitary- 
reasons cannot possibly be postponed. 
Having had an expeiieiiceof over twenty-two years in cem- 
etery management, covering all its details, I may be warranted 
in saying that I do not know of a single valid reason in favor 
of the Sunday Funeral. On the contrary, I know, as you gen- 
tlemen also know, there are very many and strong reasons 
against it, to some and only to the more important of which I 
desire to call your attention. 
1. The Sunday Funeral disturbs the sacred quiet of the 
Lord’s day. It is often largely attended by bands of music, so- 
cieties and crowds drawn by curiosity to the house of mourn- 
ing, to the church or to the cemetery. It is also quite as often 
accompanied by an evident desire for display or notoriety on 
the part of the supposed or real mourners. 
2. If the funeral services are held in a church, the Sunday- 
Funeral often interferes with the regular church services, to 
the great annoyance of the clergy and parishioners, who also 
have rights which are entitled to respect. 
3. Cemeteries are more frequently visited on Sundays than 
at any other time. The visitors are not always attracted, to the 
City of the Dead by any special regard for the memory of those 
there interred, but rather by a morbid curiosity, “to see fun- 
erals.” The Sunday Funeral is to such people what the mag- 
net is to the bar of iron; it attracts. And the thoughtless 
crowd thus attracted, in its jostling, and in its desire to see 
what is going on, pays no regard to the decorum due the sad 
occasion; it tramples under heedless feet the adjoining sodded 
graves or lots, and in a few minutes destroys beautiful and 
•A paper re.ad at the Cleveland Convention of the Association of American 
Cemetery Superintendents, September. 1900, by Rev. George F. Houck, Manager 
Catholic Cemeteries, Cleveland, O. 
costly flower-beds that may require many days and dollars to 
replace. 
4. The Sunday Funeral is at variance with the Decalogue. 
The law, “Remember, keep holy- the Sabbath Day,” is as bind- 
ing to-day as when first promulgated. Cemetery employes, 
funeral directors and all other persons directly or indirectly 
connected with interments, have as good a right, and as sacred 
a duty as others, to observe the divinely enjoined day of rest. 
Charity and absolute necessity alone absolve from this sacred 
obligation. 
To the above reasons against the Sunday Funeral others 
might be added, but their presentation would not add more 
force to the now very commonly accepted verdict: “Abolish 
the Sunday Funeral I” 
The question is simply this: How can the Sunday- Funeral 
be abolished? A certain modern statesman, speaking on one 
feature of the many- sided financial question, once said: “The 
way to resume is to resume.” I would paraphase his words by- 
saying: The way to abolish the Sunday Funeral is, to abolish 
it. No doubt it will be difficult in many places to do so. Yet, 
with firmness and persistency, at least on the part of those in 
charge of private cemeteries, the Sunday Funeral would soon 
be of the past; for public opinion would thus be gradually edu- 
cated to approve such action, and would eventually- sustain like 
action on the part of those in charge of municipal cemeteries. 
To prove that my suggestion is possible I will state that 
for many years the question of abolishing the Sunday Funeral, 
because of its many attendant abuses, was seriously discussed 
by those in charge of the Catholic cemeteries in the larger cities 
within the limits of the Diocese of Cleveland. Steadily the 
feeling grew that the Sunday F'uneral should be abolished. 
Finally the Rt. Rev. Dr. Horstmann, Bishop of said Diocese, 
published the following prohibition on December 23, 1897: 
“To the Rev. Rectors and Pastors in the Diocese of Cleveland: 
From and after January i, 1898, Sunday funerals will be 
prohibited in the diocese of Cleveland, except in case of ex- 
treme necessity, to which fact the priest issuing the burial per- 
mit will certify by letter to the sexton, or superintendent of the 
cemetery in which interment is to be made. If by reason of 
death from contagious disease it is necessary to permit an in- 
terment on Sunday-, only a hearse, or wagon, and not more 
than three carriages, or other vehicles, will be allowed to enter 
the cemetery. 
The reverend rectors and pastors, as also those having im- 
mediate charge of Catholic cemeteries, will be governed by the 
above regulation in regard to burial permits and funerals. 
By order of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, 
G. F. Houck, Chancellor.” 
Since January i, 1898, there have heen no Sunday funerals 
within the Diocese or Cleveland, and all concerned are quite 
pleased with the result. What has been thus successfully ac- 
complished, others in charge of private cemeteries can do, even 
though there may be some friction and dissatisfaction when 
such action is first taken. In time those in charge of the pub- 
lic cemeteries will of necessity follow the good example. Let 
us hope this much needed reform may soon be universally 
adopted. 
The Funeral Car. 
Ever since the electric system of propelling street cars was 
adopted, it was my earnest endeavor to induce the two com- 
panies owning the street railway- system in Cleveland, and 
within reach of every cemetery-, with one exception, to equip a 
Funeral Car for the use of the public. Many and seemingly in- 
surmountable obstacles were in the way to have this desirable 
object materialize, chief of which was the great expense of 
building supposedly- necessary- switches on which to place the 
car whilst waiting for the funeral party, either at the house of 
mourning, or at the church where the funeral services were to 
take place. Finally, after much discussion the two companies 
