Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-07
About Cremation,

The practice Of cremation as method OF dis
posing Of the dead is growing in popular favor
in Europe. The requirement in Italy that the
permission of the minister Of the interior is
necessary in every case of cremation, has, with
In the last two years, been abolished, and
authority is now given By the project OF the
province at the request Of relatives and the ere
nation society. sixteen bodies were burned at
Milan in IsII. In Germany where the Siemen'5
pattern OF apparatus is used some progress has
been made in the adoption OF the substitute for
burial cremation chapel has been built at
GOtha. and a ritual has been framed by the
ecclesiastical authorities for use on the occasion
Of pubic cTematiOns. In England Il society If
prominent men has been formed 10 introduce
HE practice, and a CrematOry is now in course
II erection. In Holland there is also an I'M
pOTtant cremation sOcietr, which comprises
distinguished professors. thc9logi3nS, chemists.
and scholars. In Switzerland cremation has
been IeEaIiLcd, but in Austria, Russia, aud
France the permission of the government has
Vet 10 be obtained in every case. With the
few scattered instances Of cremation in this
country all are familiar. Practice has not yet
made perfect here. Tie process requires
{, longer time and is more expensive than in the
old world. The cost OF cremation by DR.. lie
MOyne'S process IS SIS. or more than twice tie
cost 1t GOtha, an incOnSideTablc sum, however,
when compared with the expenses OF q mOdpI
funeral. But the same idea that economical
considerations are out of place in diSpo5ing Of
the dead which causes 4 single death in poor
family TO bring the survivors nearer death by
needleSSly consuming no inc0nSidfabIe portion
OF their means OF support may be expected TO
prevent the argument of inexpenSivene5S from
having any general effect in favor of crema-
ton. a conservatism which opposes all limo
yatlOnS and the suspicion that because Gre
nation vas praCticed mainly 10 pagan times il
may be un-ChriStian seem to be the main Obsta-
Giles that have retarded its adoption In Germl-
ny, however. where the Protestant clergy have
conducted cremation services, IL was asserted
b. one OF the Officiating ministers that there
could BE no objection on the part u the Protest
AMI church 10 return to CTCmItiCn But in Eng
land, or the other hand. one or two prominent
ecclesiaSlicS have condemned tie practice as
The neW-fanglcd dcctrilc OF 4 restless are
son situations have been s. rrnSted where
cremation is especially applicable, as, for IN
5 anCe. after battles. during epdemics for the
conveyance OF remains 10 distant parts and
where the soil is unsuitable for burial places
II also comGelds Itself 10 those who have a
horrible dread that they mag be buried alive
No one denies the sanitary and economical ad-
yantages OF cremation. and, Is 10 the objection
on the score Of religion. the example OF the Ger
man PToteStaatS shows that religious exercises
over the dead are not inconsistent with crema-
tiOE- II would seem also that the resurrected
body might spring as readily from White and
nofenSlve5 ashes as from Wondering dust or
rOTTuDfiOn