The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-07
F rockingham on Cremation.

Last Sunday the Rev. o. B. rockingham
delivered sermon at Lyric Hall, New York
city, on ''the disposal of our body" The
subject OF cremation, he began, was one ex-
citing great interest at the present time. 1t
engaged the attention of scientists and of al
most all men of cultivation. Since the promi-
nence given to it at the Vienna Exposition it
has taken hold of us with an interest singu-
larly swift and deep. 1t has been comment
ed upon universally, and not by those who
wish something merely new, hut by the scien-
tst, the socialist and the man OF faith and
hope. 1t was worth remarking that this re-
form is urged on account of its benefit to the
living II our age is remarkable for one thing
more than another it is for its investigation
of everything that tends to the improvement
of the condition of humanity. The usages
of ChristendOm in interring the dead were
familiar to them. They were derived from
the ancient Hebrews. In the old Testament
interment is spoken of as the only method OF
disposiug of the dead. There we're so lew
exceptions that they merely prove the rule.
Among the Jews there was a horror OF not
being decently buried. The laws were very
stringent and the custom inviolate. Their
method of interment was very much like
olrs. The graves were sacred places. They
were made as 1t were garden, so deep is the
foundation of the modern custom. 1t was a
religious custom, for with tlis custom was
the belief that the soul hung around the body
and would not be parted from it. The grave
was dwelling place, little world, This is
stated in so many words by the most eminent
writer's of the times. After quoting from va,
rious old writers in proof Of this statement
he said that the dead were prayedto and wor'
shipped. How this belief came over to the
"a l~a 10 To
The word that meant soul was the same as
the word that meant body with the addition
of that within the body. 1t was this belle
that made the people so particular as to the
rites of burial.
Nothing must be omitted; for il it were
the soul would not be at rest. Among them,
too, those remote Aborigines, was the idea
that there was bone which would be the
nucleus of a new body. Something kindred
to this is found in the oldest part OF the Old
Testament. Jacob, when told of the death
of Jo ep n, said Il will go down to my son.
Isaiah said of their enemies that their bodies
should not be resurrected, the Pharisees, swho
among The Jews represented the idea oil res
direction, believing in reviving the body as a
matter of course ST. Paul believed that the
material body would germinate into spiiltu-
al one and that belief has survived 10 the
nresent day. Around this old custom are
some of our sweetest associations; it seems to
preserve the dead. They are company-a
community of brotherhood. People cling to
the Graves of their dead friends almost as
closely as TO their living friends. How sweet
" those old people spoke OF the dead! The
| old Hebrew said II shall rest with my fa-
thers." What sense of security is in this
Lifes ftiul fever over, he sleeps in peace.
| This is mistake. There is nowhere SO
much activity as in the city of the dead.
| Nature does not allow the form OF tue de-
parted to waste. The ancients did not know
this; they did not search into causes, as we we
do. It is revealed to us that the city OF the
dead is not inactive. Science offers to us
startlne revelations. Death may need a
deener Grave than we have suspected. Pos
] sibly those who have passed away in peace