The first time I came across the term “Funeral by Moonlight” when I began to write the Mendooran section for my 1993 book, “Around the Black Stump.”
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I found that the Dubbo Despatch newspaper of June19, 1894, had recorded the death of Peter Luckie, formerly of nearby Biamble, and a past licensee of the Mendooran Hotel.
He was accorded a “Funeral by Moonlight’’conducted by the Rev. William Hurst of Coolah. Within a short time afterwards Rev. Hurst died.
At his request he was buried against the sanctuary wall of the Anglican Church at Coolah, with the thought that if the church was extended his body would be with its confines.
In the warm country areas, prior to about 1900, burials after sunset were not unusual. Many funerals took place on the night of death as most hospitals etc. did not have morgue cooling facilities.
Also, for those who worked in the field, almost all day, it gave them the opportunity to attend funerals after night fall.
I was fortunate, in about 1985, to have a visit from Dr. Rudolph Brasch, a well know author of thirty books to his credit.
He wrote in the field of theology, philosophy and history. He had worked in London, Dublin, South Africa, and the United States prior to coming to Australian in 1949.
I met Dr. Brasch when he came to Coolah in 1985 for the purpose of Inspecting the Black Stump cemetery, situated in private land ten kms north of Coolah. At the time he was preparing information for his new book, “Permanent Addresses – Australian Down Under”.
Later, he wrote to me, forwarding his following notes in respect of “Funerals by Moonlight”.:-
In the days gone by there was a superstition that one should shun the sunlight at the time of death and internment when the spirit of the deceased is still hovering around lest it permanently attach itself to and haunt the living.
Hence the custom to black out one’s home, by closing the shutters or drawing the blinds and wearing black and a veil.
Funerals that were conducted by moonlight, it was thought that the atmosphere lent itself particularly for the occasion “in the moon the light of perfect peace”.
Burials at night were prominent during epidemics and not the least the period of the Black Death. The dead were buried at night as was done at the Manly Quarantine Station up to the year 1900 or so.
In the 1990s an attempt was made to introduce cremations in twilight. However, the move was stopped by Union workers.
Dr Brasch introduced me to the unusual headstone of William Vitnell in the Church of England section of the Mudgee Cemetery. The headstone has an engraved clock. The inscription reads, here lies the remains of,
William Vitnell. Born on the Parramatta River, June 1, 1832. Died the sixth of March, 1918.
- Perhaps some, o’er my cold ashes
- May upbraid me, but nothing I reck
- If they let me sleep on in my grave
- Where my friends, they have laid me,
- So kind friends, when this you see
- Remember me, and bear me in your minds
- Let the world say as they will.
- Speak of me as you found.
William Vitnell was born in Ryde, son of William Woodger Vitnell and Martha Wood.
They were married in Uralla in 1847, and later moved to Mudgee, where they had a farm for 40 years known as Oakland, near Biraganbil. At the time William was one of the most respected residents of Mudgee.
William died in Mudgee March 6, 1918, age 85 years. He left 12 living children, eight males and four females ranging in age from 36 to 60 years.
None were deceased. At the time of his death his children were residing at Mudgee, Marrickville, Sydney, Mount Hope, Coonamble, Eugowra, Wellington and Cobbora. At Cobbora, Edward Vitnell held the license of the local hotel from 1915 to 1923.