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Many
lot owners regard Cemetery rules and regulations as unnecessary interference with freedom
and a restriction of liberty. Fortunately those who regard them as a nuisance and a source
of annoyance are in the minority. Most lot owners realize that without reasonable rules
and regulations there would be no freedom of action, no orderly development of the grounds
and no proper or efficient management.
The primary reason for the existence of a
cemetery is to provide a place of burial for the dead. It is also necessary to maintain
and beautify the grounds and insure proper conduct on the part of the cemetery and
lot-owner, employee and visitor.
The rules regarding burial of the dead are
few and to a large extent are governed by law. By far, the majority of cemetery rules have
been made to insure good order in the maintenance and embellishment of the grounds. In a
cemetery with more than 3,000 adjoining lots and a like number of lot owners having their
own individual ideas and opinions as to how their lot should be improved and beautified,
it is not hard to imagine the chaos and resulting confusion if no restrictions or
limitations, were in effect.
Annually, an almost endless variety of
requests must be refused on the basis that to grant them would constitute an infraction of
the rules, but you can rest assured that there is something more tangible in back of the
refusal than a mere violation of the rules. Ordinary requests for permission to disturb
the turf to plant flowers, or to place an urn or other obstruction on the lawn would seem
like trivial matters, yet, if granted and multiplied by hundreds of similar requests,
would increase tremendously the cost of maintenance and detract seriously from the beauty
and general appearance of the grounds.
It is perfectly natural and normal for one
to desire to improve and beautify the last resting place of a loved one, and sentiment in
this regard is recognized to the extent that every effort has been made to provide for the
fullest possible freedom of action, consistent with the rights of others. It is obvious
however, that all are not endowed with a sense of esthetic values and appreciation of what
is right and proper in regard to the embellishment of a burial lot. Therefore, it becomes
the duty and obligation of the cemetery to guide and direct by means of reasonable rules
and regulations. Much in the same manner that cities adopt building and zoning laws for
the protection and guidance of its citizens, cemetery officials have adopted rules, based
on long experience and careful study, for the benefit and mutual protection of the lot
owners and the cemetery as a whole.
Rules and regulations must not be regarded
as a restraint on personal liberty. In this limited space we have, tried to show you they
are proper and necessary. If fairly, courteously and impartially enforced on our part and
observed and complied with on your part, they can and have reacted to your benefit in
decreased maintenance charges and lower Perpetual Care costs. Do not form the opinion that
in their enforcement those in charge are being capricious or arbitrary. Remember, we are
all striving to achieve the same end - the beautification of the home of our beloved dead,
which should be a source of pride to you as a lot-owner, a credit to us and an
acknowledged beauty spot in the community.
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