Funeral celebrant Roy Francis convinced Messenger that just as his wife was entitled to a civil celebrant marriage, she was similarly entitled to a civil celebrant funeral. Some 200 people attended and many urged Messenger to continue the work as "much more important than weddings." Messenger credits Dennis Perry, then brother in law of Helen Francis, of being a decisive influence. From this time on some marriage celebrants began to quietly and carefully officiate at funerals when they were asked to do so. On Tuesday 3 May 1977 a group, consisting of some authorised marriage celebrants and some other persons formed an
Utopian Community of Modern Times crime or violence during its 13 year history. Different reasons are posited for the inability of Modern Times to continue beyond its fourteen-year life span. Vern Dyson wrote that “the economic panic of 1857 undermined the business enterprises of the village and the civil war completed the task of annihilation.” William Bailie also stated his opinion about the deleterious effects of the Panic of 1857 on Modern Times.Roger Wunderlich felt that Bailie exaggerated the impact of the 1857 crash on Modern Times and states that after the crash a slow but steady influx of settlers continued. Wunderlich further says that