The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-13

enSsh and Sinners Particularly Opposed
bN.
PINE GRoyE, WErzE1 Co., W. VA, !
May II, 1874.
Editors OF tho lltelllgeucer;
have noticed recently that tho an
clent practice Of body burning Il receiy-
Ing considerable attention at the ha nds Of
scientists. While l have read great
many things that pleased me, have also
noticed some Rt which I was greatly sur.
pdsed; and prominently among them was
the Off repeated assertion that the re.
ligious world, as a general thing, would
oppose cremation. Now, Il seems 10 me
that II Is wrong before the experiment has
been tried to cry out "Oh, the religionists
will oppose ltp I have been casting
about Ia my mind for the reason why
this cry has been made, and can only &C
count for Il thus: Scientists have .ad-
vanced some very absurd theories In tho
last low years and religious people have
opposed these Vagaries, and therefore
they imagine thatreligionists win oppose
anything, good, bad, OF indifferent, which
emanates from that so1rceS! z q m
NO REASON WHY eRELIe1oUs PEOPLE
SHOULD OPPOSE cRRtATIoN,
No true reason can bel given why re-
ltgtous people should oppose cremation OF
anything else necessary to, the promotion
o. ourlhealth or our rational happiness,
There 10 surely nothing incur religious
creed that opposes this idea, and the Bi.
bic ls,yery pointed on the subject
thou art and unto dust shalt thou re-
turn" It Is only question Of time
whether We are reduced to dust by the
slow process, OF decay or by tho more
rapid process OF fire. II Is dust at last.
Men generally have strange ideas
concerning religious duties. I heard
a man say he did not believe IN
religion. Said he, IT believe II a
man Is honest land will do right,
be will go to heaven without religion"
Now that is as good definition oi
religion as would want except that the
last, doing right includes being honest as
well as everything else. 1faman Wereto
do right between man and man, between
man and God, he would 60 to heaven In
q BLAZE Of religious glorya Others think
a religious man Is responsible for every
thing connected with religion even TO the
carrying out OF Gods plans; when the
tActiSS mans share is very small and may
be reducedto this: "Phous shalt love thy
nelghbor Us myself" Love answers ali
the demands Of tho law. He that does
this will find he hos his hands full-no
time for caring and much less for Fighting
anything else; and spending oil his timefn
this delightful service win find God takes
care OF everything else, After we have
served our generation, Then shall the
dust return 10 the earth as Il was; and the |
spirit shall return unto God who gave It."
Now while this is the case, our only busl.
ness Is TO lovoand serve God q and after
our bodies have been consigned To the
grave, cast into tho sea, or burned TO |
ashes and those ashes scattered 10 the
four winds5it is Gods work 10 care for
these ashes and bring forth our bodies as
lie has promised. II saw the dead, small
and great, stand before God; + \ 4
and the sea gave up the dead which were
in 1t; and death and hell Tor the gravel
delivered up the dead which were in
them" We care nothing, particular,
what becomes Of our bodies, SO long las
tue OmniScient Eye watches over them,
and lie, who seternal truth, has promis.
cd TO RAISE them up at the last day. |
Some ot'thc hymns we sing convey the
same idea, for instance: |
"Flung 70 Tho needless winds,
Or on the waters cast,
Tho martyrs ashes, watched,
Shall gathered be at last;"ct
As far as l am individually concerned; !
and In this declaration, think, repre-.
sent the majority Of the religious world,
II my body after my soul has lett It will
be Of any benefit to mankind cheerlully
surrender II to the dissecting knife and
after It has been thoroughly examined
they may gather the mutlated parts and
burn them and scatter my ashes over the
telds to enrich the soil. While l breathe
| expect spend my lie Tor the benefit
Of the human family. This being the
case, ] am sure I would rejoice 10 know
my body would also benefit my fellow
men after my spirit should ascend 10 the |
God who gaveit. " vi a'7g1,'a
THR SCIENTISTS SUBJECTED OF 1NsN.
CERTIFY. Il
I will tell you who oppose cremation.
In the first place, tho scientists them
selves. This may sound strange to some
but l INFER 1t from the report OF their 70.
cent meeting In New York, allude 10
the first one. The idea of certain learned
gentlemen associating themselves Tor tho
purpose oil performing cremation on any
who desire 1t at their hands, and at the
same time, by their resolutions, leaving
1t optional whether their own precious
bodies should be burned; or III other
words saying, SNOW gentlemen, We win
burn your bodies In the most approved
style, place your ashes in funeral urn,
present II 10 your families, who will thus
be able TO keep In remembrance the dear
{ departed" But when asked to submit
their own bodies to the flames they say
in affect, II could not think of il for q
moment; the fact Is, my aol6 is terribly
opposed 10 cremation, and do not feel
like disregarding her wishes In this mat.
ter" l know, this resolution was stricken
out, l also know some OF these gentle-1
men did not join the association. l sup.
pose they were afraid the burning desires |
Of others joining the association might
Consign their bodies to the fire with no
opportunity ~ withdraw or keep them.
selves from the dread fate awaiting them.
Now Il they had banded themselves
together for tho purpose Of burning their
own bodies, and then made the necessary
preparation, In short time they would
have counted their followers by tho thou.
sands instead Of being passed over in
silence by tho learned, or made the
laughing stock Of others not as wise as
they are.
WHAT WAS NEEDRD FOR TIE SUCCESS OF
CREMATION.
The people do not want resolutions,