The New York herald., 1876-11-19
THE VON PALM CREMATION.
A Feudal Baron Orders His Body
To Be Burned.
HIS REMARKABLE HISTORY.
Curious VcisSitudes Of an ArislOcratit
Diplomat.
Is REMARKABLE HISTORY.
THE AMERICAN CREMATORY.
Singular Institution Amid the Pennsy.
vana Mountains.


Charles Baron Palm, Grand Commander Of the
Sovereign Order OF the Holy sepulchre at Jerusalem,
Prince OF tho Roman Empire, Knight Of St. John Of
Malta. will be crematcd at Washington, Pa, the 9th
sDf December What is earthly OF this parsonage lies
the wing vault OF the Lutheran Cemetery; and,
# "A disenIpodied spirit receive any consolation
rom the good estate OF It's former tenement the
Of the Baron must be grancd to know that a recent
surgical examination has established the fact that the
neshy domiciic which il inhabited Tor about three
score and ten years is almost in tho condition OF n
mummy The death OF this gentleman occurred at tho
end of last May Tho readers Of the HERALD VIII
member what pitch public curiosity reached when 1t
announced that the funeral services were to be
conducted according to tho rite Of the rheosophs
eety claiming TO be a modern rcsusctaton OF some
ancient Sect Egyptian or otherwise, which sought In
the dim twilight of history, Tor truths and principles
which were not got at, and whose modern representa-
tives, alter the tring interval of three four
thousand years, arc on the scent of the
truths and principles Cicero had in his day, the bold
ness TO "Nu tam absurdun quod non dictue. fuit
40 aiiquo phiosophorana." ("Therc was no absurd,y
10 which other Of tho philosophers had not
committed himsell.') How far tho rhcosophs iu-
strate this celebrated saying il Is needless here
qurc 1t may be sufficient TO state that the Baron
Palm belonged at the close OF long life. this ira
ternity ard that its present head s going to have tho
Barons body reduced TO ashes by rc the 9th prox
This disposal OF the remains OF Baron Won Palm VIII
probably produce great sensation in this country
twill BIO IN direct opposition to ,he universal custom
prevailing among Christian sects.
THE FURNACE
erected by DIR. lie Moync, at Washington. Pa, is ex
,ected 10 reduce a human body ashes about fvc
hours, without particle of odor single disagree.
able effect Dr. lie Moync erected the crcmatory after
study OF all the details lie has done all the work ut
his own expense, and II is his purpose that fees
shall be charged, so that this OF disposing
he dead shall be within roach OF the poorest people
The cremaory is bull, of brick, one story in height
nth roof OF corrugated iron, and provided with
lhrec chmncys Tho building is divided into two
iooms, the reception room and the furnace
lac reception is about twenty feet square, is
hrnished in the simplest In the centre there
sa catafaiquc upon which the body and about
he CHAIRS for tho accommodation of the
Trends OF the departed A door from the reception
leads into. the furnace room which in
sizc Is about ten by twenty feet In this there
nothing but the furnace. Tho retort In which tho
mains 10 be crematcd are place was made especially
for this purpose II Is ana halt feet in length
twenty inches in height and twenty inches wide
md somewhat resembles retort the only dilcr-
encc being that its sides perpendicular instead OF
being arched Beneath the retort s the furnace, and
uscd and Is calculated that tho rotor, be brought
10 n white heat in twenty four hours Then tho
body will no inserted, and in about nvo hours tho
remains viii be reduced TO ashes. Before the
Ashes be collected however, the furnace be
allowed to COOL and this, IT is thought VIII take about
thifty.sx hours When the ashes are collected they
will be placed IN boxes und held subject to tho order
Of the friends OF the departed An index OF these
boxes Will be kept that they may be obtained ut
any time ana prevent any danger OF their being
mingled. While the burning is taking place no odor
Will DO perceptiue, as all gases cmnnatng from tho
body returned the furnace and thorc consumed
This accomplished by having hole at tho back
pi tho opening the furnace, and through
his all gases generated by the combustion OF the body
viii be forced 20 escape. Already the furnace has
been tested with l6s pounds OF sheep caroasscs and II
was found work admirably there Is therefore
reason to expect failure in any other instance.
THE yoS PALM CREMATION
The cremation OF tho Barous body win take place.
previously stated, the 9th oi December next, at
Washington Pa to which place the rcnains will bo
forwarded day or two beforehand. The fires IN the
furnace win bc lighted The morning OF the 9th,
Is expected that twenty-o hours later the full
beat requircd-ncary 900 degrees Fahrcnheit-wi be
obtained At seven O'Clock tho morning OF tho 9th
he body will be placed in tho and the cremation
will be completed about noon. During tho afternoon
addresses viii be delivered by DR.. lie Moyne, the de-
ngncr and builder OF tho crematory Colonel H. $. Oh
.ot in his capacity executor of the baron under
his last will and testament; Rev. q. +. Hays ID. D.,
President ofthe Washington and jefferson College. aud
pther prominent persons The Boards OF Health OF
Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, d. c.,
aud other cities have been invited, and most o them
have already voted send their
men 10 witness thus highly interesting experiment.
The University OF Pennsylvania, the New York College
OF Physicians and Surgeons and numerous other
learned bodies VIII be represented. .
DR. lie Moyne wrote TO friend recently that enough
persons have already applied for admission TO I'LL the
two largest halls in tho town. conference Of the
scientific gentlemen present will be held in the even
ing 10 discuss the respective advantages of cremation
and inh humation. President Hays, OF the Washington
and Jefferson College, although not yet fully CON-
mttcd to cremation will take the ground that there Is
nothing in the Christian religion that forbids those
who choose adopt this method OF dsposing Of their
dead.
circular letter OF invitation is In preparation and
will be shortly issued to the public institu-
usns. aud those whom It might fail 10 reach should
apply to Colonel II. ;. olcot,. No. IL Broadway.
Tho family OF tho late Baron Won Palm originated In
Southern Germany Suabia) where the oldest branch.
tho barons d still hourrshing. younger branch, the
counts, flourish IN Wurtemoerg, bavaria and AUSTRIA
and tho third line, the princes have their residence
In Vienna The rst limo are barons OF the Holy Roman
Empire tReichsincherIen) and belong to one OF the
very oldest families Tho late Baron born at the
baronia scat OF his father at Augsborg Bavaria He
received a liberal education ut the University OF
Heidelberg, and at carly age he entered
the diplomatic service OF his country. He
FIRST served as secretary Of legation ut Carls-
ruhc and subsequently reached tho rank OF
ambassador. At one time he was sent as special en-
voy Ferdinand H., King Of Naples, by his brother
10 negotiate settlement OF family difficulties, incu-
ding among other things the legitimacy OF the Princcs
con. Baron travelled very extensively ana spent
large portion OF his fortune In gratifying MS taste
for and painting, and nnalIy, about ncen years
ago he " this country He was highly esteemed
for his and social charactcristcs
Later be moved Chicago where no invested largely
IN land and mining interests bat MOI successful