The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-07
THE VIEWS OF DIR. LIE MoYNE.

Wallace, l visited DR.. LIE Moyne last
evening and had u pleasant interview
with the gentleman who has gained 80
much notoriety. in connection with TINS
ceremony, and who has done 80 much to
advertise the hitherto obscure town OF
Washington. After being ushered IN we
were introduced by Dr. Hupp. to DIR
lie Moyne, an aged gentleman in his 10Th
yesr, seated in his parlor surrounded by
n host OF scientific sdpdnts, and number
| of ladies, all Of whom seemed TO be pay.
ing court to the patriarch chief. He
gave US cordial welcome and at
to him the all absorbing topic
cremation. We found him enthusiastic,
honest and clear in his convictions. In
response to number of questions, he
stated that cremation was bound TO be
established as the custom, both because Of
| its sanitary and economic features, the
first being the strongest one presented to
him, because, perhaps, Of the fact that he
was a physician and had studied that
branch of the subject more carefully. He
| was convinced that when the body died,
tho quicker it was disposed OF the more
fully it accorded with the Divine will.
When the brute creation dies
Nature at once sets the birds,
worms, and all manner Of insects
at work to devour the carcass.
It. was great law Of Nature,
and he did not think we ought to permi!
false sentiment TO prevent US from ex-
ecuting her laws.
AS to the question of economy, he
thought that cremation had every sdvsn-
tage over all other methods OF inhuma-
ton, The actual cost from the time the
body was delivered at the crematory
until the ashes were returned to the
friends could not exceed ten dollars, enly
requiring about forty bushels of coke and
the labor of one man. He thought that
rs improvements were made in the sys-
tenn, the cost would be lessened. He re-
garded the extraVagsnce OF modern tu.
nerals as one OF the greatest evils of the
times, and in this particular at least |
am disposed to concur with the Doctor,
Tor it is SO often the case that
"The pomp OF death
Is more dreadful lhan Cealn ltseIt.
He believed that there was to-day as
much money invested IN cemeteries,
tom bstones and graveyard decorations as
would pay the natlonnl debt Of this
country This great amount was to all
intents and purposes dead investment.
Being pressed on this point, he admitted
that extravaganza might be INDUCED
where the body was cremsted, by per-
sons who would store the ashes away and
erect over the urn monuments or even
temples rs was done in ancient
DAYS, yet he thought the same
temptations would rot exist. lie
thought the clergy wonld fight the idea
or remain neutral and conservative.
They had done SO in the abolition fight
sgainst slavery-then they let the polI:i-
ciaus pioneer the ways and they fell in
at the heels of the hunt. They would
do so now. After science had demon
strated the correctness Of his ideas, the
clergy would boldly strike lor the faith,
and he had no doubt that the day is not
far distant when they would be pToduc
ing scriptural texts to prove that crema-
tion was OF divine origin. He thought
that Abrahams attempted sacrifice OF
Issac was pretty strong argument that
cremation was divine institution. He
had more hope of the young people
than the old-the rising generation Was
better educated and philosophical
the old men and women were sentimen-
tai and governed by fixed prejudices.
They had buried their children in
graves and could not bear the Idea OF
being separated from them in death.
And Just there is where we think that
the cremation boat is going to strand. 1t
is in direct opposition to the universal
custom prevailing among Christian sects,
and according to my theory they will
have to overturn Christianity, before
they can eradicate that sentiment
which the Doctor thinks is
alone confined to the old people.
/ was very much entertained with the
Doctor, | found him frank and open in
his discussion Of a crematery plan, and in
conversation he approaches whs. a friend
designates as "cOlIOqnlal to verbosity."
he stated that he expected his body To be
cremated. and all his family so for as he
knew t. cir wishes. 1t will be remem-
bered in this connection that DR.. Le-
Moyne was a candidate for Vice Presi-
dent on the ticket with James q Blrney
in the early history Of the Free Soil par
ty. The Doctor Is likely 10 gain more
notorlety in this fight than in the other,
1t was here that l also met smother iudi.
vidual who is playing a prominent part
IN this strange act, and that was
COL. H.. :. OLCoTT
A, a superficial glance a person would
pronounce Col. OIcott as a pretty
good looking fellow. He is
sbou. FIVE feet ten inches in his boots.
square built, regular features, polished
manners. and about 46 or ~ years of
age. but on more careful scrutiny Of
the man there is something to me in
stinctivcly repulsive, He has snobbish
sir-the way his glasses set on his nose
give him Schuyler Colfa1 appearance,
that of cunning hypocrisy. l do not wish
to do Col. OIcatt or any one else injustice,
but IL a mans character can be read by
the marks tina. Nature has traced upon
the exterior, lwould set him down as g
man OF strong passions and brutal IN
stlncts. He looks just the man for
cremstor. lie doubtless injoys it not
because good is 10 be accomplished, bat
because he is doing something repugnsnt
to another's feelings.
THE EXPERIMENT WAS a SUCCESS
to day. and the process Of cremation
managed with Il consummste skill. Still
Whatever prejudice l had against the
system remains, as | saw nothing to re-
move my natural repugnsnCe to it as 8
proclamation OF the fOr ms OF departed loved
ones There il a feature of bsrbsrous
grossnes. about II that is hard to over
come. The solemnitt of funeral is
done away with, aud as [ witnessed this
days scene, was torcIbly reminded OF
the lines
"Oi ali the fools
Who flocked 10 swell or see the show,
Who cared abo { the corpse? The funeral
Made the attraction, and the black the
woe."