NECROPOLIS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
Tau public will learn with satisfaction that several of the Metro, politan Clergy are engaged in an important movement for the public advantage. A report, adopted by a Committee of those gentlemen towards the end of December last, on the subject of intramural interment, has just been -published ; and the Com- mittee was to have an interview with Sir George Grey this week. The report suggests a plan of obviating the difficulties that hinder the abolition of such interment. The great obstacle is the vested interests, with other interests partaking of a permanent nature : another difficulty is the conveyance of poor parishioners to distant places of interment. The plan suggested meets both difficulties in a very simple and effective way, and comprises great improve- ments on the present system. It is proposed to establish parochial cemeteries at suitable spots out of town, with the approval of the Bishop and of the Board of Health ; and to transfer to those grounds, in the lump, all the rights and interests which now exist in the Metropolitan paro- chial churchyards and burial-grounds—the rights of the clergy, such as that to bury a parishioner ; of the parishioners, to receive burial in the parish-ground, &c. ; of parish-officers to receive certain fees, and the like. The question of right, parish-officers, is not raised. The extent of ground required for Metropolitan in- terments, including prospective.demands upon space, is estimated by Mr. Chadwick at 646 acres,: the actual extent of existing bu- rial-grounds is 218, of which.1,76 are parochial; the joint stock cemetery companies have 260 acres in occupation ; and it is calr culated that for immediate purposes the parishes would require 150 acres. To purchase that land, it is proposed that there shall be a union of all the parishes, who shall hold it in common; the ground to be under the direction of a managing board, composed half of Metropolitan clergymen, half of laymen. Intramural in- terments would then cease, with few exceptions; among which would be burials on behalf of families that own vaults.
The poor receive especial consideration— "It would be very desirable if the expenses attendant upon the interment of the dead could be diminished. The main expense, however, of funerals is not attributable to fees, but to a feeling existing in the breasts of the surviving rela- tives, that by the use of expensive funeral fittings they show respect to the me- mory of the deceased. Cases are continually occurring wherein parties in a humble station of life have begged, on the score of poverty, to be excused from the payment of the ordinary church-fees, who have nevertheless incurred super- fluous expenses for funeral fitting; to an amount far exceeding the whole of such fees. It would be a great benefit if some arrangement could be made—and the Committee believe it to be practicable—whereby the charges for everything con- nected with interments should be upon a scale suited to the varied circumstances of society, and provision made for conveying the body in a more satisfactory manner from the home to the burial-ground at a greatly reduced expense." The Committee propose—" That in each of the new burial-grounds to be esta- blished, fit and appropriate buildings may be provided for the reception and safe keeping of bodies previous to interment, upon due application being made for that P' and the requisite certificates as to the death, &c. being produced. That srerision be made for the conveyance of all bodies to the burial-ground at certain tied charges, to be regulated by the Board. • • • " Their wish is that every inhabitant of London, however poor, should have a legal rig • ht to the following privileges on the death of a relative,—namely, an un- disturbed grave in the peaceful seclusion of a well ordered burial-ground; the fall performance of the Church-of-England service; the respectful conveyance of the body to the place of burial, and whenever the removal of a body from the place of death may be desired, its care and safe custody in a house of reception until the time of burial. They wish these privileges not to be of an eleemosynary charac- ter, but the provision of the Church for the population, whether rich or poor; to be obtained by every one on application at the church of his parish, and on the pay- ment of the lowest charges for which such services can be rendered.*
The sanatory bearing of this proposal needs no enforcement ; and it is most satisfactory to find the Metropolitan clergy taking so creditable, so truly benevolent and public-spirited a part. The consideration for the poor is peculiarly becoming. With every feeling of deference, however, we would point out one reason for expensive funerals, which has probably not escaped the notice of the Committee. The main reason we take to be, the different reception accorded in the church and churchyard to the mourners who come with many coaches and many horses, with a single carriage and pair, or on foot. The difference is chiefly per- ceptible in the demeanour of the subordinate officers ; but even the clergymen are not always exempt from being influenced by worldly considerations. We do not so much refer to definite acts of disrespect, as to the nameless expressions of demeanour, the greater or less degree of haste and abruptness, which measure the social estimation of the mourning party. From the pas- sages which we have quoted above we gather that it is the inten- tion of the Clerical Committee to bring about a more strict ob- servance of absolute spiritual equality, most decorous in the pre- sence of death, most needed by those whom sorrow has cast down to a yet lower misery in their poverty. "The varied circumstances of society" are properly considered in the arrangements of the Committee ; but they ought not to be reflected in the mien of the church-officers, nor recognized in holy ground. Let a becoming equality be truly manifest, and we venture to predict that de- jection will not seek to avoid the pangs of mortification by resort- ing to funereal extravagance.
While the Committee are engaged on this praiseworthy enter- prise, would it not be possible to revise some of those usages, un. important in themselves, which lend such unutterable ugliness to funereal ceremonies in England, and add to dejection the pains of a studied diettriness ; desecrating sorrow by making it disagree- able P We think it would be quite possible to redeem the secular part of the ceremony from some of its preposterous and sordid dinginess, without at all breaking through the spirit of an har- monious sadness in costume.
As a social concession on the part of the Church, the movement could not be better timed. It exhibits the Established clergy in the light of intelligent men, anxious to improve, not impede, the opportunities of the times for promoting the interest of the public, the welfare and comfort of those.poor who are most immediately committed to their charge. The Church is one of the ruling bo- dies of the country ; and in this advance we see it fulfilling one of the timely duties that we have indicated in a foregoing paper, as necessary to conciliate the affections of the people, to promote good feeling, and consolidate order.
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