The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-04-15
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Burning Versus Burying.
Correspondent. News and Courier.

New YORK, April +.
Discussions regarding the burn
iay, Instead Ct the burying Of
the bodies of the dead, have for
some time been the feature of the Sun
dry edition of the New York World.
The articles of Sir Henry Thompson,
in the English periodicals, advocating
incremation, have been reproduced
there, aud have provoked an interest
ing controversy. in which some
doughty champions have appeared
in favor of the present custom of bury
ing iu the earth. The arguments in
ia ior Of incremation are that grave
yards are prejudicial to the health Of
the living; that they occupy much
space that might be put to more use
full purposes; that there is something
repugnaut to the mind in the coutem-
plation of the body of 4 loved one rot
ting aud putrefying, and eaten BY
worms, and that burning the body,
and placing the ashes in a funeral urn,
is much more heslthful, pleasant and
economical. The friends ofthis theo-
~ .aave grown strong enough in New
York to effect al organization, and ac-
cordlneEa
PUBLIC MEETING
of the .incremationistS was held at the
Association Hall last night. Like
most initial meeting Of ''reform," "
this one numbered its pioneers atless
than fifty, but they were evidently
earnest men and believers in the doc
trine: Three physicians took part.
and among the letter,writers who ap,
proved of the objects of the organiza-
ton were Mr.. Henry Bergh, the presi-
dent Of the Society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty to Animals; Rev. 0. B.
Rockingham. the free relisionist and
disciple of Theodore Parker; Mr..
Charles 4. Dana, editor Of the Sun;
and Col. Henry S. Olco,t, the distiu
guished insurance lawyer. The only
letter received that opposed iuerrma-
ton was written by Mr.. D. &. Croly.
the managing editor of the Graphic,
and it expresses so we'll the view OF
incremation from the utilitarisn and
positiyist standpoint, and is so tersely
expressed, that l think your readers
will thank You for the space you vii!
give to it here. It was as follows:
.. 1852 EAST THIRTY EIGHTH STREET,
March, 81; :, -
. e. j. Ca$,ceU-DEAR SIR: With
regard to cremation all I have to say
on the subject is:
First. That am far more interest
ed in people being we'll lborn than in the
method OF their burial: and | enter
tain the opinion that all organized ef-
forts should be to the physical, men
al and moral well being Of the race,
aud hence any agitation for change
in the disposal Of the remains seems
to lie waSteiul.
Second. The method of diSposiug
of the dead depends very largely upon
the religious fsith Of the people. So
long as the resurrection Of the body
is j cardinal doctrine Of the Christian
religion it will be idle to attempt any
movement for return 10 the pagan
method. No matter what seutimen-
tai, sanitary, or scientific reasons could
be urged, they will weigh as nothiug
against custom founded upon re-
lisious creed and what is to Us inl-
memorial habit.
Third. If it were possible, however,
generally to change the method Of
dispoSing Of human remaius, | should
oppose cremation rs being waste Of
material which might be utilized by
SO dispoSing Of the corpse as. to add to
the fertility of the soil.
Fourth. In view of the sparseness
Of our population | Do not sev how
there Gun be any embarrassment in
finding cemeteries and graveyards
enough for al who are likely to die i'll
this country within the next ten
centuries.