The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-05-13

From the New York Herald OF the a5tl.
~ - Cremation.
THE sAHaNs IN eogNCIL-sH.aLE NE
BURY OR BURN.

THE SANRNS IN GoUNCfL-SH.sLL NE
BURY OR BURN.
Last evening in an upper room Of
Association Hall was held very ex-
traordiaarg meeting. The New York
Cremation Society, or society for the
burning Of bodies after death, held ali
adjourned meeting to consider oreanl-
zatiep, to learn the progress made since
the last meeting-Ehich, by the wa,
was their Srst-and to listel to what
was deemed TO- be advisable on the
subject. Professor Henry Stone. oc-
cupie1 the chair, and Mr.. Edward A.
CasweH acted as secretary. The audi.
ence was small but select, some of the
zmostiemiHent men in law, theology,
medicine and journalism being pres
ent. There was but one lady present,
very handsome and distinguished
looking parsonage, for it seems that
woa,an's rights do not as yet claim
this last privilege The secretary read
a list Of. the ineorporators Of the So
ciety, whose names are as follows {:
Henry W. Poor, James F. Dwight,
F"C. Bowman, Henry F. Holmes,
George Lorillard, James ". s. Ar
mold, Francis NJ. Weld and DR.. Sam
ne, Sexton. The report Of the COM
mittee on law vas read by Mr.. Bow
man. who said that there was no law
or statute to interfere with the proper
disposal Of bodies after death, unless
that the relatives refused their con-
sent, and, also read letter from Col
mel Alfred Wagstatf, in which that
gentleman promised to do all he could
IN the Legislature % further the inte-
rests of the bill before the House to
promote .incremation. The society
makes it obligatory on itself to burn
all the bodies of its members, proYld-
ing, Of course, that the relatives
Of the deceased person shall not object,
and the assertion was also made last
evening that a body n b .urned at
q cost Of from $40 S..
It is the intention of the society,
as soon as they have been Incorporated,
to lease piece Of land in the outskirts
OF the city and thereon to erect build
ines and furnaces. wherein bodies may
he burned in a business like and nnos-
tentatious manner. The cost Of the
buildings and furnaces is calculated at
about $4,000.
r.s- Dir. Caswell said tina: q number of
models for furnaces were expected
from Germany, and particularly from
Leipsic, at an early date, which would
be shown to. the society. It was not
the intention &C. the society to burn
any bodies without proper precautions
where foul play or poisoning might be
suspected, and in all cases certificates
would be demanded from physiclans
and uudertakers, and where suspicious
circumstances were observed g post
: ,aorten and analysis would be had. The
ashes would of course be given to the
friends, to be placed in cemetery,
aud monuments to suit the taste and
grief of relatives could be erected, as
at present.
3. Dr. Samuel Sexton, chairman Of the
committee ON public meetings, stated
that number Of cuineut gentlemen
had signifed 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 " Arnold asked that
the letters should be read, and uum'
Der Of letters were read from different
gentlemen in good social positions, in
which they declared that they were
willing to be burned after death, and
they would also be pleased to have
their relatives burned, if the latter
were willing.
5Ir. Caswell also stated that he had
a number of letters from well known
clereymen, who were in favor OF burn
ing bodies, but that they did not thins
that the public were Yet ready to ac
cept their views.
Professor barnard, President o1
Columbia College, was called upon tt
address the meeting, and said thai
there was nothing but sentiment to de
gend the present system Of burylnE
bodies. Iu sanitary point Of view
the bodies that were now Inferred II
potter's Field and on the island:
should be burned; but he did not be
ieye in beginning cremation there
because it would not do TO associate ii
with ignominy. The movement shouit
be respectable from the outset, and L
would chen succeed. He spoke OF tlt
Convent.of the Capuc'lins at Roae II
whose underground chambers mai,
.A...ericaus had seen the bodies OF th'
monks placed to wither and die, th'
atl.:%.phcrc being cod one. H
WIS heartily in favor Of cremation, Du
wnnId like to have it done aeceutl,
ana not il any abrupt haste afte
death.
\ Mr. Crdfton, young and s6''
ln"kin@ 9entlc:nca. arose and spoke
He believed HAT Gre was 4 good ant
-rcat clement which generated llea
and gave Ike. There was nothln:
moxious about cremation, and bodlc
haze to decay anyhow. This yoan!
gentleman was extremely nervous, AM
pullcd al of the sccrctary's books an'
i,ancrs around the desk while speak
inr. lie afterwards arose and sal
..;.::t he was willing to be burned, an
zs:So s::iI that his guardians were vii
in= to sec him burned. This rem*rI
was received with grnat laughter an
applause. :.
Professor Secley. an old white la!'
ed gentleman, declared that On san
tarv reasous he Was in favor Of bum
in@ bodies. In 100 years: a.Oun
New YORK. there would be $4,000 .oU
Of bodies buried il the present sy$te!
Mis- f. continue. aud t eou!d not bll
r>.n!c in disease and death. IL n4sn
countrics it was customary aad lauo