The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-21
CITY BURIAL S.
Dedication OF Mountain Grove Cemetery,
M Rridxeport and Mr.. Lester's Grafton.

Jester's effective and eloquent Grafton, in conse-
uuenee OF the press Of matter which could not be
deferred IL is now offered TO our readers as il was
deliyered The sebject of city bunals is now ex-
citing universal attention throughout the country,
and we perceive in all quarters cheering indications
are appearing, which lead US to hope that twill not
be long before the barbarous custom of intra-mura
interments will be regarded with horror by all our
citizens. Probably no man has bestowed more
attention this subject than Mr. Lester or treated
il with greater ability.
lR. TESTERS ADDRESS.
FELLOW CITIzENs-
When look upon so vast an assembly, gathered
m such place, and for such purpose-an assem-
bly, made up OF the freedom men and women of
New EDgland-gathered on the genial soil of my
native State, TO consecrate a Garden Tomb for
yourselves and your children for ever, lind so
many fee ngs in my heart struggling for utterdnce,
that hardly know what TO say. Those words
which have hitherto filled the measure of my emo
lions, seem TO have lost their Significance, their
eanestness and power.
This day will mark period in your history
this dedication will be an event which will be long
remembered. When the last hours of this CEN
fury are sounding, few gray-hel AIDED men viii
come here, and hold a sacred festival, TO recall an
event which will have happened 30 years ago; and
as they walk slowly around the green mounds aud
tme-won monuments which will Then whiten these
now virgin helds, they Will lean tremolingiy on
playing among the graves, what happened on this
day. Some Of those future trembling gray-haired
men have this morning mingled Their youthful
voices with the music of the birds, who have
already consecrated this lealy temple 10 the praise
of The great Creator.
In the solemn act Of dedicating sepulchre like
this, seem to be standing in the presence of flu
ture generations--to be surrounded by the guar
dian angels of those who will hereafter come here
for resting pace-to be blsking under the bene-
hcent light OF the allseeing eye of the Universal
Father With such a consciousness, what man
would lightly assume So solemn a task as | am
now called on 10 do But have a duty to per-
form, and will try to discharge it as best may.
But although cannot, and wish not, 10 escape
from this solemn consciousness, yet IL may not
tinge my words with gloom; for images of life
and beauty always come over my fancy when
i think OF burying loved ones in a garden, as
The Sarcom was buried, where sweet flowers
send their fragrance all through the air, where
the rich grass grows luxurianty, where waving
boughs spread their sheering arms the
sleeper, and the kind birds chant his requiem I;
and / may and do thank you, withal, for the
i rejoice 10 lend even my poor aid 10 what |
esteem one of the greatest, noblest, and most sau-
taIy reforms OF our age-that of establishing every
where rural cemeteries, for the burial and protec-
tion of the dead. There are other reforms, about
which men may and do differ; but there can be no
contention here. And yet the great work of
founding rural cemeteries in the neighborhoods OF
all our cities, towns and villages, has but Just be-
gun The heart of the nation is not yet stirred,
but il soon will be- and TO the very centre. In this
country II does not take long to produce results
conviction is flashed on the minds of men, by the
same electric conductor which carries intelligence.
Before generation goes by, the inhabitants of our
cities and large towns, viii recoil from the mere
thought ofburying the dead amidst the homes OF
the living, as one recoils from the touch of adj
der Even now, every man of keen and rapid per-
cepuon, who has bestowed an hours thought on
the subject, regards the practice with unuterable
lOatling and horror. In Bridgeport this rood work
has al DIV been fad racS
ing few words TO you last summer when meet
ing ofyour citizens resolved to found a rural ceme-
terry in this neighborhood, and to day 1 have had
the pleasure OF contemplating your plan complete.
All honor, then, TO those who began the movement
all honor To those who aided il in its progress
and honor 10 all who assist in the celebration for
ITS successful achievement. You have erected
TO yourselves in this beautiful Thanatopsis,
a monument which will insure the gratitude of
your children, and excite the admiration of all
coming time. The traveller, who once hurried
through your city, will here after stop an hour to
visit Mountain Grove Cemetery; and he will bear
away with HIM, new images Of taste, beauty. and
rein. ment and higher sentiments Of humanity
and religion. Nor should allow this opportunity
10 pass without well merited, but inadequate tri
butr Ia The genius Of the gifted artist 10 whom you
are indebted for what | regard one Of the most
exquisely conceived and executed rural cemete-
Ties In the world With some facilities for obser-
walton at home and abroad, am free 10 say, that,
IN my Judgment, Horatio Stone is gifted with a
higher genius, and Furer classic and christian
taste in monumental sculpture and rural cemete-
ries, than any man have ever known. Asa friend
of ait am happy TO record my grateful recognition
of your appreciation Of his talents and services.
hope. too, that his labors among you have not
ceased in the wing ont OF this landscape garden,
but that he may yet embellish il with some of his
own breathing marbles. Above all, do hope that
over the ashes Of one Of your most usirions citi-
zens. he may erect a monument worthy 10 pcrpetu-
ate his fame. The art OF Christian Sculpture, yet
in liz infancy in America could find filter sub
Ject for triumph than in illustrating the virtues
and achievements Of the amented bishop.
But / am admonished, by the fatigues incident
20 all such occasions, to come al once to the main
subject; and SHALL with great breyiy, speak of
the objects aud advantages Of rural cemeteries.
I. Tn rRoTEcuoN OF TmE LWNG-ls, per-
haps, the most palpable; II Is, certainly, an IN,
voluntary motive for the establishment Of rural
cemeteries. Medical men have long known and
felt the fatal consequences TO the living Of nerrng
the dead amidst their Indications. Amorg the ma
lions Of antiquity, the dead were inferred without
the walls Of Giles. The Roman law prohibited
the burial or burning Of the dead within the gates
az the Eternal City. Two years ago, / went
through the Columharia, the great rural cemetery
81 Rome, where her uncOunied millions were
buried. IL was seven miles beyond the gates Of
the city. There was discovered few years ago.
The tomb and the body Of Scipo, siill preserved,
with the diamond ring ON his finger, after lapse
of twenty centuries. so, too. with Athens. whose
great cemetery was built outside the city and so,
too, with Jerusalem Hence, the New Testament
tells NJ that the saints, who came out Of their
the Holy Civ. and appeared unto Mary. such
was the unyaying custom Of antiquity. such,
too, Tor the most part, has been the prac'icc OF
modern nations. Great Britain. and the United
States, however, have proved lamcniahlc oXccp-
lions. And how 80 fatal and Disgusting crctom
could 50 long have prevailed among The Anclo-
Saxon race, has excited the curiosity and surprise
at the world. Bot the custom cannot last The
civilized world has been shocked by the astound-
ing devt lopsm made in Paris, London. aud New
loik, during the past year. few months ago the
IsfndCn 1tmCs. said -" We can widen streets
Huh sewers, enforce ventilation. sweep away
heaps at abomins ton, and in many respects. Ike
the condition Of life IN the metropolis more favor
able Than even IN the rural districts. All oar en-
deayors, however, VIII be in vain. so long as we
are liable 20 have our atmosphere tainted with the
puifd cxhalations Of dead bodies. Sir BENJAMIN
Brodie, IN his examination before the parliament
tary committee, informed them that the gas evolv-
ed nom putrid bodies. is chiefly mllhuraied hydro
gen--a gas SO noXious aud SO deadly. that the
admixture Of one part Of Il with 900 parts Of
atmospheric air, is instantly fatal" u was proved
before the same committee. that ffiChiiul mortality
ragged in the immediate ncirkhorhood Of ell the
burial grounds in the CITY of London and n law