The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-14

allaw the Democrats all they claim.
Catholics and Cremation.
The Pittsburgh Catholic Journal OF laot
week contains three.column article or
the subject OF cremation. It refers 10
the recent test Of DR.. LeMoynes furnace
at Little Washington, by the burning Of
the bodies OF two sheep, and says: at
was built to roast men, and not sheep;
and such subject must, II possible, be
had" ltthen Sarcastically refers to the
abode Of Beecherism by adding:
Accordingly the Doctor has steadily
kept his ultimate. object in view, and
with that sagacity. peculiar 10 great
minds turned instincliSely to Brooklyn,
knowing thst'if any city in the Union
could furnish fit and fat roast il must
be Brooklyn. Without wishing to de.
tract from the merits Of other cities, we
perfectly agree with him. .
Should success attend this first expert.
ment, 1t will not be the highly educated
scientific gentlemen and prominent Jour.
nalists' only that will have n treat, but
every newsboy in the city will be heard
to cry, All about the oremstion!p or
perhaps, "All about the Warrington
roast %
The Journal then saysi 4 issg
"But the effect which the cremation OF
a human body will have on the public
mind is q more important subject of In.
quiry. The denial OF the Immortality OF
the soul-if people admit that man
has asoul-the denial Of eternal rewards
and punishments, the contempt Of relig.
ion, and the little value set upon human
life by large body not Of the common
throng, but Of highly educated scientific
gentlemen, have well nigh succeeded In
practically making Of man what Mr..
Darwin has labored to make OF him
theoretically-an animal, well develop.
ell ape. What harm, then, in burning
him. since he Ia no longer the creature
Of whom the Almighty said, Let Us make
man to our image and Likeness"
"Still we are Of the opinion there will
be revolt in the publicsentinient when
the first victim Is offered on tha altar Of
reform. Then, il is an innovation on
a long.standing, universal and respected
custom; and II will prevent friends from
paying that respect to the depart ID in
which they both aatter their pride and
alleviate their sorrow. But perhaps the
strongest opposition-thoush many may
be ignorant OF its true source-will pro.
coed from the fact that il ruthlessly and
cruelty obliterates in moment all recol.
lection Of the dead. Death, it Is true,
sewers the tie forever that binds us to
those we love; but they are consigned 10
the earth n. they appeared in life, and
the expression Of their features il en-.
graved on the memory, to fade gradually
and imperceptibly away. And although
we are confident that they must return
to dust by loathsome process, yet it
takes place after they are removed from
sight. Our last recollection Of them il
in their proper form. Reduced to ashes
before our eyes, although their remains
could be verified, 1t would be difficult to
recognize in them the remains Of those
we once loved. Faith il weak, and ashes
are but ashes.
"But underlying all il u reyerenlial
feeling for the dead. The human body,
after the soul has departed from it, Is YET
sacred by an inherent sanctity and not
merely as the remains OF one that was
dear TO Is. All our funeral ceremonies |
and our department in the presence OF
the dead testify 10 this truth. But while |
we acknowledge this we must not forget |
Its true source. lis remnant OF Cath.
olic faith not wholly swept away by the
tide Of skeptieism and infdelity let loose
upon the world by the reformers. Hence
we Catholics who have this faith in its |
pristine purity can never adopt an inno-
vation 80 repugnant 10 that veneration |
for the dead which our religion inspires. |
The dead body was during life animated |
by u spirit created in the image and
likeness Of the omnipotent God, and was,
when in His friendship, the temple Of tho
Holy Ghost; It was sacred reservoir
into which the unfailing streams OF his
grace were constantly pouring, the com.
panion Of angels, and the guest at his
table where Il feasted on His own most
sacred Body and Blood. On the day-ol|
baptism, and OF Confirmation and at the
hour OF death, 1t was annointed with the
holy oils. There is for these reasons a
species Of sacrilege in cremation In addi.
tion to the repugnance which that pro.
cess Of disposing ofthe dead Is naturally
calculated TO inspire. But, it may be
urged, II the body returns to dust at
length, US all admit, why should sum
mary process be more repugnant than q
natural one? The common belief, found.
ed upon reason and Christian faith, Is
that as thesoul came from God, and tends
to him by an attraction natural toit, 30
the body should return to the earth, from
whence II was taken, by q process nattir-
al to it. But here, too, the Christian re.
ligion follows the cold remains, andapre-
pares for them resting place consecrated
by her benediction, which renders the
very dust sacred in her eyes. The Ger.
mans, animated by beautiful sentiment
call the Christian burial ground Goods
Acre. a4s
The Journal quotes from the Dublin
Rsrisw an article against cremation, land
winus up ny saying:
Notwithstanding what has been said
we are still Of the opinion that the prac-
lice will have its advocates, and alter
the public recover from the shock which
the frst few cremations OF tprominent
Brooklyn gentlemen will cause, the sys.
TEN viii gain ground, and perhaps in
twenty-five years be q common mode of
Of departed in6dels. II l.
enough to have aped the human during
life without presuming 10 ape on after
death. But Christians-by which we
mean Catholics-can never adopt crema.
tion." AEt /
The Weak Spot tor Republicans
In Louisiann. s5
Cincinnati Commercial, Of yesturday.l
The strongest Republican parishes in
Louisiana have been terrorised, and the
n Al Al -.