Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-29
Burn or Bury :



The papers are full of discussion about the
burning of the bodies after death, instead OF
burying them. People are not likely to
change habits easily that involve the pro
foundest feelings, the associations, senti-
mcntS cherished in connection with method
of burial practised for ages. There are
many practices in connection with burial
which world almost incline one 10 the prac-
| tice of eremation-we allude 10 the outrage
! ouS expense which the customs OF society
almost compel one to incur. Collins have
become almost objects Of fine art, and Ike
creations of art, are becoming extravagantiy
expensive. Except a. matter of taste,
his makes little difference To the rich. But
1e example is pernicious. The funeral ex-
u, .1ses attending the burial of men who have
moved in good society in Brooklyn and New
York. ranges from FIVE to fifteen hundred
dol la rs. The most expensive wood, wrought
in ihe most expensive methods, with exce'-
sive ornaments by way of screws, handles,
plat e, scrolls. etc. the retinue of carrlageS,
etc. al to swell the bill. If by cremation
the ,ste ntation and extravaganza of iuner1I
coult be abated. it would constitute strong
mott ye for the introduction Of the custom.
But is is hardly proable that the habits of
gene ati, ras will he changed with such preci-
pitat lou a. to send such thrills of alarm as
have been experienced by the fair friend
who e letter We insert
'.pear Sir-FOr the love of all you hold
sacred, do wsft, through the medium of
YOUR inspired pen, a sermon upon the hor-
rors of that ghastly thing called cremation.
OF course believe that dust we are, and
=. In slo hn
raised with renewed bodies. or, as St. Paul
says, spiritual bodies yet who is there
among us that holds not sacred tie beloved
bodies of our precious dead Picture to
yourself the beloved bodies of your precious
wife or children subjected to fervent heat,
hat shall destroy them utterly in an ''hour
n. half,'' as stated in one of our tayorite
;ou mails Horrible God forbid that any
such scheme shall ever prosper Do, do,
Mr.. b ,echer, use your influence in suppress
inc the same and oblige. True FRIENDS.
y. B. DO not toss this in that receptacle
for mons .nse termed waste basket.
accord. ngly our INSPIRED PEN now
..wafts ermon' to all concerned.
|. We n. e heartily opposed to any com
nulsorv bu, ming. Whoever prefers to be
buried sboul, have an unrestrained liberty
in the matter. II 1T he pleasanter to decay
GRADUALLY in box five feet beneath the
ground. giving to the near absorbent earth
the volatile orstituents of our cast-off
bodies, than to be turned 50 'eedily to ashes,
so let it be.
.. If there be hose who, lookin'g forward,
contemplate witll satisfaction an urn con-
tanning the unco isnmable particles g their
bodies, why should they be denied t. .'eir
preference? Shall one who wishes to b.
ashes be compelled 10 be DIRT? If one
prefers to have his urn on shelf should he
be oblig ed to have box far under ground
8. L 1t every one choose. Let commits
sioners be appointed who shall put the
question without bias to each one. Will you
burn or bury? And let there be no odium
cast upop either side. Whether it be dust
or ashes, let it be esteemed orthodox. Hay-
ing faller into parties, sects, clans, all their
life, and qnarrelled about almost every
question, there should be peace at last, and
mans ghost not be disturbed as to the dis
position of his body. The Burning Sect
The Bur ying Sect. Fire or the Spade?
Into the ground or into the air? How I'M
seemly ould be these cries.
Finally by way ofapplication-
4. 1t is very little matter what becomes of
the body after we have done with it. 1t is of
a great deal more importance to consider well
what will befall the soul. The casket is OF
little value, but the jewel is priceless. Here
endeth the sermon.-N. Y Ledger.