The church funeral is the more trying, in that the family have to leave the seclusion of their house and face a congregation.  On the other hand, many who find solemnity only in a church service with the added beauty of choir and organ, prefer to take their heartrending farewell in the House of God.

=ARRANGING AND RECORDING FLOWERS=

An hour before the time for the service, if the family is Protestant, one or two woman friends go to the church to arrange the flowers which are placed about the chancel.  Unless they have had unusual practise in such arrangement they should, if possible, have the assistance of a florist, as effective grouping and fastening of heavy wreaths and sprays is apt to overtax the ingenuity of novices, no matter how perfect their usual taste may be.

Whoever takes charge of the flowers must be sure to collect carefully all the notes and cards.  They should always take extra pencils in case the points break, and write on the outside of each envelope a description of the flowers that the card was sent with.

“Spray of Easter lilies and palm branches tied with white ribbon.” 
“Wreath of laurel leaves and gardenias.” 
“Long sheaf of pink roses and white lilacs.”

These descriptions will afterwards help identify and recall the flowers when notes of thanks are sent.

As the appointed time for the funeral draws near, the organ plays softly, the congregation gradually fills the church.  The first pews on either side of the center aisle are left empty.

=THE PROCESSIONAL=

At the appointed time the funeral procession forms in the vestibule.  If there is to be a choral service the minister and the choir enter the church from the rear, and precede the funeral cortege.  Directly after the choir and clergy come the pallbearers, two by two, then the coffin covered with flowers and then the family—­the chief mourner comes first, leaning upon the arm of her closest male relative.  Usually each man is escort for a woman, but two women or two men may walk together according to the division of the family.  If the deceased is one of four sons where there is no daughter, the mother and father walk immediately behind the body of their child, followed by the two elder sons and behind them the younger, with the nearest woman relative.  If there is a grandmother, she walks with the eldest son and the younger two follow together.  If it is a family of daughters who are following their father, the eldest daughter may walk with her mother, or the mother may walk with her brother, or a son-in-law.  Although the arrangement of the procession is thus fixed, those in affliction should be placed next to the one whose nearness may be of most comfort to them.  A younger child who is calm and soothing would better be next to his mother than an older who is of more nervous temperament.