The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-25
"SHALL VIZ burn OR BURY q
Meeting of the New York
Cremation Society.
THE COST OF BURNING A BODY.

Last evening III an upper room OF Association Haul
was held very extraordinary meeting. The New
York Cremation Society. society for the burning
OF bodies alter DEATH held an adjourned meeting
to consider organization, TO learn the progress
made since the last meeting-which. by the way,
was their irst-and to listen to what was deemed
to be advisable on the subject. Professor Henry
Stone occupied the chair, and Mr.. Edward A. Cas-
well acted as Secretary. The audience was
small but select, some OF the most eminent men
IN law, theology, medicine and journalism being
present. There was but one lady present. very
handsome and distinguished looking parsonage.
for 1t seems that woman's rights DO not as yet
claim this last privilege The Secretary read list
OF the incorporators OF the society, whose
names are as follows:-Henry w. Poor, James
+. Dwight, Francis G. Bowman, Henry +.
Holiness George Lorillard, James W. S. Arnold,
Francis NJ. Weld and DR.. Samuel Sexton. The re-
port OF the Committee on Law was read BY Mr..
Bowman, who said that there was no law or
statute to interfere with the proper disposal Of
bodies after death. unless that relatives refused
their consent aud also read letter from Colonel
Alfred wagstaf, in which that gentleman promised
iui Their the interests Of the bill before
the House TO promote lncremation. The society
makes 1t obligatory on itseli to burn all the bodies
OF its members providing or course that the rela-
tves OF a deceased person snail not object, and
body can be burneu al cost OF from SIS to SIS.
IL IS the intention or the society," soon as
land In the outskirts Of the city and thereon 10
erect buildings and furnaces wherein bodies may
be burned IN businessiike and unostentatious
manner. The cost the buildings and furnaces
is calculated at about $4,000
Mr. CAswELL sand that number OF models Tor fur
naces were expected from Germany, and partlcu.
larry from Leipslc, at an early date, which would
be shown to the society. Ii was not the intention
OF the society 10 burn any bodies without proper
plAV mipnt
be suspected; and in all cases certificates
would be demanded from physicians and
unueg takers, ana where suspicious circumstances
were observed q p0st-mortem and analysis would
be had. The ashes would oi course be gwen 10 the
friends to be placed IN cemetery and monuments
to suit the taste and grief OF relatives could be
erected as at present.
DR.: SAMUEL SEXTON, chairman Of the Committee
on Pubic Meetings, stated taat number Of
eminent gentlemen had stgnined to HIM their
Willingness to come forward and speak at the
great public meeting which Is soon to be held TO
discuss this important subject.
DR.. JAMES w. ARNOLD asked that the letters
should be read. anu number Of letters were read
from different gentlemen IN good soclal positions,
In which they declared that they were Wiling to
be burned after DEATH. and that they would also
be pleased to have their relatives burned II The
latter were willing.
Mr.. CAswELL also stated that he had number
in favor OF burning bodies, but That they did not
think that the public were yet ready TO accept
Professor BARNARD President OF Columbia Col
lege, was called upon 10 address the meeting, and
said that there was nothing but sentiment to
defend the present system OF Durying bodies In
sanitary point OF view the bodies that were now
inferred in Potter's Field and on the islands
in beginning cremation there, because 1t would
not do to associate 1t with lgnomlny. The
movement should be respectable from the Quiet
vent OF the Capuchlns at Rome, In whose UNDER
ground chambers many Americans had seen the
atmosphere being cod one. He was heartily IN
favor OF CREMATION but would IKE to have u lone
decenty ana not IN any aprnP. nas1e a,er aeah
man. arose and spoke. He believed That fire was
a coed and great element winch generated heat
and gave life. There was nothing nOxlOus about
cremation, and bodies have TO decay anyhow.
This young. gentleman was extremely. nervous
and papers papers around the ne desk While while speak.
Ing. He afterwards arose and said that
ne MAS ws We're TO an see @
burned. This remark was received with great
laughter and applause.
man, decla red that on sanitary reasons ne was IN
favor OF burning bodies. In 100 years. around
buried Il the present system was to Continue, and
1t could not but result In disease and death. IN
many countries it was customary aud laudable
to burn bodies above ground.
The Rev. o. B. FROTHINGHAM, the next speaker,
was received with much applause. lie said that
he was IN favor OF cremation but that the move
ment would be met with great opposition and
prejudice, as all new things and improvements ior
the benefit OF the human race had met with nevlta-
BILE prejudice and opposition. The lowest and ignor
ant class conld not oppose 1t success uly, because
they were helpless and the highest class would
not oppose because OF their feeling in favor of
cremation but the strong, stubborn and persistent
opposition would come from the numerous mid
die class. No doubt existed in any sane mans
mind that it would be q tremendous sanitary i'm
provement.
Mr.. JAMES F. DWIGHT spoke at some length of
the desirabiity OF cremation and stated his ex-
periences in the Convent OF Monreula, In Sicily.
He had seen enclosed In vial, under the high
altar OF the Cathedral at Rouen. in Normandy, the
ashes which had once been the heart Of Richard
Cnur de Lion, and he believed that this subject
had in it the reasoning power oil all sensible
people. He hoped that the Chairman would call
meeting at an early day to let the public know
what was to be done.
The editor OF the South newspaper OF this
city, spoke in favor OF the object Of the meeting.
which was then adjourned.