New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-04
CREMATION.
,,ocprss OF THE MOVEMENT.

CLERGYMAN Is AFRAID TO SPEAK oOr.
Pa IN, EdiIOr Of The Tribune.
SIN. Your unexpected and widely-extended
not;oe of the meeting of few gentlemen al my
hang, last Wednesday evening to consider the SUD
iat ~ cremation has made me the recipient OF con-
Siderable correspondence from those who prefer
cremation to nterrnent. As l cannot respond to all
Who have written me. must ask You to permit TINS
pablic aeknow ledgment, which hope will be sutl-
Gent.
The object of our meeting was TO devise prac-
tical plan for permanent organization-thus giving
definite shape to the movement With most OF
thOae present il had long been a desire to have
cremation a recognized mode of disposing of the
dead Owing TO the extensive discussion
of the subject, many have been at this
time brought to examine into the mattef:
and we thus meet an established sentiment instead
of being compelled to create an interest we lee'
SIRE that a respectable and constantly increasing
class ~ citizens prefer cremation ana tha laci'ucs
should be afforded them, without opposition. Inc
rpeetinr seemed to demonstrate the fact that it
would not be difficult 10 arrange the prellmnanes
10 that at no distant day this great sanitary reform
might be inaugurated 1t should he distinctly I'M
dersood that our object is not to enforce crematlon
unless favorable public opinion should so decide
nfter having witnessed its advantages from actual
trial.
THE TRIBUNE remarks in its notice Of the meeting
that probably most of its readers would be sur
priscd to know that there is number OF persons
IN this city who really and zealousy IN earnest
IN the effort to introduce the practice OF burning the
dead instead of burying them" Ii was greater
surprise to to learn how, large that number was
Here are two letters from persons who represent
classes of society from whom immediate interest
was not to be expected. The first Is penned 10y
IL, ,shpc Iirl
social position is adorned by mental ability and
liberal cultivation. The otheris froman evangelical
clergyman of high character and position.
A WOMAN's OBJECTIONS TO ISHUMATTON.
REw-YORK. March 2s, 1874.
Dr. s. sEXroN-Deqr Sir; Having noticed your name
IN THE TRIBUNE a. a scientific gentleman prominently
favorable cremation, trust that few WORDS upon
the subject lady not seem to you misplaced
My hope greater because Of nave the mat
ter much at heart.
IL has been frequently as9credihat our sex is averse
10 project be- OF you 20 believe tBat portion OF
properly represented 10 the statement. Ger
tam discreet silence las misinterpreted There
refined cultivated ladies in iny circle who take
unusual interest in the movement They are not
women prone " come before the public with their
opinions; their lives very full OF thought, and
Outlines OF care the quiet secusOn OF their homes
they developed their powers OF reasoning and the
beefs thus elm nated form part of their m3ntal
any cgotIscal display. This especial subject coming
IN contact as does with their religion (which is
sacred their eyes to Ne spoken of n all. they avoid
bringing forward; aud, 1t has met with great OPPOSE
lion upon lOu- grounds they hesitate draw down
their creed the iupIation OF sackness wave
iug which such opponents would probably bestow upon
st. Tbus the public which they shun never knows them,
and their silence nisc0nstrled into dsapprOval 10
h tor tais reason that 20 write YOU: the de-
strong, the conviction far too Deep for us TO
fan the when might perhaps advance it,
1t even by Tie impeTcepubie breadth OF hair.
May tel you, therefore, what conclusion many OF
have reached among Ourselvesf II those who are
decide finally to the healthfuness Of ere
NATION, look forward eagerly 70 return TO this
practice tdat the Innovation of burial be
dispensed with 10 would b, impossible TO dispose Of
our dead in ans way that would be free from pain yet
We think cremation would be less terrible than uhuna
ton sanctihed by Christian custom and religious
Tites The grave has many horrors that its vague
shadow lying between aad the serenity OF death,
Rpulis The dread Of being inferred alive, OF the
lingering agony attendant upon such position, Is
enough of itself to direct attention toward cremation
Yet 20 us there still vivid phase Of the subject.
Wacn die and are laid away, what can
be more narrowing 10 the heart torn with recent
loss THAI the hollow rafting OF earth and stones upon
beautiful ones who have perishedi How the mind
II haunted wild nights Of by the unuterdoe
pdihOs Of distant and solitary mound beneath the cold
light Of heaven, We stand above these graves for a
time and feel that the outward form lies beneath
feet Later this thought pW peer upon startled
I1inds-"they are surely changed" and then" oh,
horror what a change" The dank decay. the cingng
mold the wreck nature and the dsutegratOn Of mat
these in mcdtative hours. TIE spot
loved painful terrible and when in after
years subdue such tougAt it is because of
conviction that cue dead longer where lad
them but have themselves strange shapes and
scattered through the under world This Is a desc
Grafton OF humanity tins Is abandoning II " corruption
aud dishOnOr crude method Of dspOsing Of its
mains unworthy higher civilization which PROPOSES
u recognize III the Material the temp Of The Spiritual
Tuere u reason, logic, In a custom which hOnora
Tie temple whie inhabited to thrust II away like foul
Cremation offers alike a refuge from such kuowl-
eage "a substitute Tor custom painful Here the
body IL rapidly resolved TO the original handful Of
dust" spared all contamination rescued from all that
IL iOatAsOmv preserved trOm dissemination. Here NJ
the sUnatlOn OF are. BY which much OF the far form
mounts the after the farer spirit aud the small
residue s nurned sheltered sacred place
All mat Is lett us IL the purified germ Of humanity In
these there Is something digui1eI, sOIuethH.
HoUIe. We nay allow both tender memories and future
aspirations 10 cluster ABOUT IAeih uudlsthr lhey
no longer Oyershadowed by the lurking perception
that dare not call up our dead before the minds
iTOin the helds where We left them
We have been told mat many people find IN cremation
oieHse against religion. Can this be more tnan
prejudice. sluce the method or dlsp0-ng OF the dead
although hauOWed by mOus ceremonies, nas been
regulated by expediency, not by Divine oon-
InandI The dead at consigned 60 the depths Of
the Tue dead OF battles are uncofned and
shIOuded IN tier mounds The dead OF certain Chris
Tan ciles nave Out Drel tenure OF the SOU ana are
hustled tneir shallow before dust
turned Dust make for fresh occupants press
ins temporary tenantcy OF insufficient tOmbs
We honor the cody the suDlInest work or the Gre
alive Hand respect IL the Shrine wherein dwelt
deathes1 SOUL ana revere IL as me sacred seed from
winch shall rice that spiritual Body" which awaits the
promised by God. These helpless remains, waiting
through tue for mat quickening vernal time,
worthy OF all honor heirs 10 Immortality. I am
fully aware that there Is mucn 10 be SAID IN Of
cremation apOA IeSlous sanitary, and other grounds