Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-13
Burning the Dead.

Ever since Sir Thomas Brownies curious
| work entitled "Hydriotaphia, or Urn Burial, >
the question of cremation. or the burning of
! tho Id, i.. L"r from time to time and with
| more or less elaborateness, discussed among
| Christian nations. Both secular and religious
| writers have pnt forth occasional essays on
| the subject, but it has very rarely been treat
ed with view to arrive at practical results
| in regard to the disposition of the mortal re-
mains of the dead. Indeed, there has been a
! kind of sup"rstitiOus repugnance, none the
! less strong because vague, underlined, and in
nowise encouraged by reason, in the minds of
most persons to any suggestions of radical
change in the mode of burial cOnsecrated by
immemorial civil custom and religious cere-
mOuy Consequently the burning or cinera-
ton of corpses has seldom been considered
even as a problematical sanitary measure, to
be recommended to voluntary adoption or
enforced, if necessary, by municipal ordi
nance Thus an unreasoning regard for the
MOI tai parts of the dead--which, after life's
fittul fever, sleep WE'LL" which nothing
can hurt further, " however or wherever they
NAV be bestOwed-is allowed unwisely TO
take precedence over the welfare of the liv-
ing.
But prejudices, we are glad to observe, are
fast giving way on this subject. Religion and
philosophy, utility and piety. the obligations
to the dead and TO the living, are being more
and more reconciled in the thoughts of en-
lightened people. They begin to recognize
fully the great truth that good is an indivisible
unity, and that religious and temporal, spirit
ual and material, phlanthropic and utilitari-
an. in respect of human progress, improve
ment and happiness, are all the adjuvants
and compliments of each other, and by no
possibility can come in conflict. Mans reli-
gious nature must feel the benefit of every
advance in material science; his spiritual
strength aud beauty must realize proper
tionate gain, by whatever adds to his physi-
cal health vigor, symmetry and grace The
science of life imparts much more whole
some religion than the pOmp of death, sepa-
rately considered. HygieEic philosophy, by
gienic police, as well as calisthenics and
thetics, are, truly considered, essential and
integral parts of mans religion, as man, no
less than prayer, penitence, charity, DC.
From such IA point of view. the question of
the burial of the dead should be considered
From such "A point of view the question may
be considered disrobed of prejudice, vulgar
error. and superstition it may be approached.
examined, and solved as practical question,
relating to the interests of the living; and.
we have no doubt, that the best Informed and
most logical iuquirers would come 10 one con-
clusion-namely, that the present universal
custom of interment is an Objectionable and
pernicious mode of disposing of the remains
of the dead, which, in large cities particular
w. il would be wise and salutary to supersede
by cremation.
Under the new mode, surviving relatives
or friends would have the right to preserve
the ashes of the departed in consecrated nrns,
just as they now preserve them in vaults and
tombs. In ancient Rome, according TO the
Twelve Tables. no sepulture was permitted
within the city limits without the previous
burning of the corpse. Why should our
modern cities reek with the putrefaction of
the dead. There Is, aside from sanitary rea-
sons, every inducement, appealing To our
moral nature. for taking care that we should
be reminded of the departrd, and brought 10
contemplate mortality, by more agreeable and
elegant monuments.
Sir Thomas Browne conclusively shows
that, besides the Greeks and Romans. crema-
tion was practiced by the ancient Germans
and Britons. He intimates that il was the
aversion of the early Christians 10 this Kind
OF sepulture that led TO its discontinuance,
and caused the noisome catacombs of Rome
To take the place OF the cinerary urns Of the
days Of the Republic and early Caesars.
There were eminent Fathers. says Sir L. b.,
who. Though they stickcd not TO give their
bodies To b. barned while living. yes had no
liking for that mode alter death" This quaint
hit Ut plons inconsistency. the learnd and eio-
quent writer follows with series Of retlec-
tons abundantly proving that. in the trae
Christian philosophy. the fate OF the corrupt
ible parts of man after death Is matter OF
the utmost diifrence-tbat 10 dust they
must b. resolved, sooner or later, WHISTLER by
swift NJ tihcial fire or slow chemical combus-
ton aud il matters not how late or how soon.
| Nothing says the same writer, ..is immor-
tai but Immortality why then not leave i'm
mortality To assert It's own iadestractibility.
aud dispose of the mortal remains of the
dead for the best interests OF the livig.-N
| o. Delta.