The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-18
Burn or Bury ,
by nrNKY WARp RFEcnRR

EY HENRY WARD BRECHRR
The papers are full of discussion about
the burning of the bodies after death. in.
stead Of huryiug them. People are net
likely to change habits easily that involve
the profoundest feelings, the dissertations.
sentiments cherished In connection with
method of burial practised for ages There
are many practices in connection with
burial which would almost incline one to
the practice OF cremation we allute to the
outrageous expense which the customs of
society almost compel one to incur. Cof-
fins have become almost objects of fine art:
and like creations of art, are becoming cX-
travagantly expensive. Except as mat
ter of taste, this makes little difference to
the rich. But the example is pernicious.
The funeral expenses attending the burial
of men who have moved in good society in
Brooklyn and New York, ranges from five
to fifteen hundred dollars. The most ex-
pensive wood, wrought in the most expen-
sivc methods. with excessive ornaments by
way of screws, handles, plate, scrolls. etc,
the retinue of carriages. etc. all to swell
the bill. If by cremation the osientation
and extravaganza of funerals could be
abatcd, 1t would constitute a strong motive
for the introduction of the custom.
But 1t is hardly proablc that the habits
Of generations will he changed with such
precipitation ms to send such thrills of
alarm as have been experienced by the fair
friend whose letter we insert
"Dear Sir--For the love of all you hold
sacred, do watt, through the medium of
your inspired pen, a sermon. upon the hor-
rors of that CHASTITY thing called cremation.
OF course believe that dust we are. and
unto dust we must return that we shall
be raised with renewed bodies, or. us st.
Paul says, spiritual bodies; yet who is
there among us that holds not sacred the
beloved bodies of our precious dead Pic
turc to yourself the beloved bodies Of YOUR
precious wife or children subjected To a
tcrly in an "huur and half" as stated in
one of our favoritc journals Horrible .
God forbid that any such scheme shall ever
prosper. Do do, Mr.. Beecher. use your
| influence in supprssng the same and
obligc TRUE FRIENDS.
n. B.-Do not toss this in that rccep-
for nonsense termed waste basket"
Accordingly orr ''insp;rcd pen" now
''wafts a sermon to all concerned.
|. We are heartily opposed to any com
pulsOry burning. Whoever prefers to be
buried should have an an unrcs;raincd lib
| crty in the matter 1t it be plcasanter to
decay gradually in box five feet beneath
the ground, giving to the near absorbent
earth the volatile constituents Of four cast
| off bodies. than to he turned speedily to
ashes, so let it be.
. If there be those vino, looking for
ward, contemplate with satisfaction an urn
containing the understandable particles Of
their bodies, why should they he denied
their preference? Shall one who wishes to
be ashes be compelled to be dirt If one
prefers to have his urn on n shelf should
he be obliged to have hoy far under
ground.
B. Let every one choose Let commits
sioners be appointed who shall put the
| question without bias to each one, VIII YOU
burn or bury: And let there be no odium
cast upon either side. Whether it be dust
or ashes, let it be esteemed orthodox. Hav-
inc fallen into parties, sects, clans, all
their lite, and quarrcllcd about almost eve
ry question, there should be peace at last,
and mans ghost not he disturbed as to the
| disposition of his body, The Burning Sect
| The Bulying Sect Fire or the Spade +?
Into the ground or into the air? How I'M
seemly would be these cries.
Finally. by way of application
A. II is very little matter what becomes
of the body after we have done with it, 1t
is of a great deal more importance to con-
slider well what will befall the soul. The
casket is of little value, but the Jewel is
priceless. Here endeh the sermon. n
y. Ielger