Historical information

This card is one that was given to those who were designated to hold the tassels of the pall at a funeral conducted by Beattie and Phillips of Warrnambool. A pall was a cloth used to cover a casket or coffin at a funeral. The pall often had four or more tassels on the edges and these people, usually men, would hold the tassels when the coffin was being carried into the church and out of the church. The pall was removed before burial. It was also in some services unfolded and folded in a ceremonial manner when it was placed on the coffin and when it was removed. Other men would have been designated as pallbearers to carry the coffin to and from the church. The firm of Beattie and Phillips was commenced in Warrnambool in the 1860s, by Christopher Beattie and Henry Phillips, initially in Koroit Street and after 1928 in Fairy Street. James Beattie, the son of Christopher, was the proprietor from 1896 to 1945 when James Leahy took over but traded for some years as Beattie and Phillips. The business was sold in 2000 and an undertaking business still operates from the same premises. The other two cards relate to part of the main mourning party who would have been allocated seats in the funeral vehicles

Significance

These are very interesting cards as it is a great example of funeral practices 70 to 80 years ago. The practices may in many cases be the same today but cards such as these are no longer in use. It is also important as items connected with Beattie and Phillips, one of the two best-known undertaking businesses in Warrnambool’s history.

Physical description

This are three small buff-coloured lightweight cards given to those at funerals who were designated p[laces or parts in the service.
(.1)to hold the tassel ends of the pall covering the coffin,
.2 Seating in second coach
.3 Seating in third coach The card has black printed material on both sides and a band of black across the top right hand corner. There is a small crease on the card and it is a little smudged.

Inscriptions & markings

.1Side One: ‘Supporter of the Pall, Front Tassel-Right, Beattie & Phillips, Undertakers, Warrnambool, (J.C. Beattie), Phone 165 Day and Night, over’
Side Two: ‘Kindly show this card to Funeral Director when pall is being used and keep as a Memento’.
.2 Second Coach Beattie & Phillips Undertakers Warrnambool . 'Phone 165 Day and night. On back 183 written in pencil
.3 Third Coach Beattie and Phillips Undertakers Warrnambool. 'Phone 165 Day and night. On back 183 written in pencil