The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22
DIR. TALMAGE AND THE M'CREERY
CREMATION.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The Rev. DIR. Talmage in his lecture on Friday
evening last took occasion to speak Of the cremation
Of the body OF the late Charles A. McCreery as
'return to heathenism" and an ''act of barbarism.
while he characterized the practice OF cremation as
one that to him. stock away all the solemnity
OF death" and "a fearful indecency not to be
tolerated In Christian land and age" AS these
utterances of DR.. Talmage are fear the expression
of feeling, or, to speak more correctly, supersti
ton. which holds possession of the minds OF many
otherwise sensible people, perhaps you win allow
me, in justice TO the memory of the deceased. who
was my friend. in justice to the character OF his
nearest and dearest relatives. to say word in reply
Dr. Talmages structures are denunciation, not ar
gument and denunciation for which there is abso-
lutsIy no foundation Why should cremation be
80 return to heathensm," "a barbarsm. ga fearful
indecencyg" Why indeed 1t is no more heather
ish barbaric practice than the placing OF bodies in
sepulchres hewn out or rock. as was Common among
the Jews; of embalming. the custom in
ancient Egypt; or.of earth burial which from time
imnemorial has been the usage Of the Chinese AS II
Is in our own day. Each and all Of these modes o.
disposing of dead bodies practised among til,
nations Of antiquity. and one Of them is as much
open to the objection Of heathenism another. II
we are to be guided in this enlig htened age by the
practice Of the Jews two or three thousand ears
ago then must we give up earth burial and place
our dead in vaults. This is proposition to which
even Dr. Talmage will scarcely be prepared to ac-
cede. Moreover it can be proved by authentic EVIL
dence that cremation was not unknown among the
Jews.
.But," says Dr. Talmage, ''if God intended to
dispose OF our dead in such . fashion (by crema.
tion) He would have given biblical instruction"
Does God forbid cremation? From Genesis to Reve-
lation there il not single text that tOrbds cremae
creed that we should return to earh BE-
little reflection would have shown DR.. Talmage-I
cannot regard him as ignorant Of the elementary
more expeditiously what putrefacton takes long
time to accomplish In both operations the process
is the same-the reduction of the body to its
original elements. Not more surely is the destiny
OF the human body, announced in the Scriptures,
accomplished by pntrefaction than it is by erema-
question left entirely open by the Scriptures, and
thus becomes one Of expediency which must be de-
stances have been taken into consideration. Scen.
fists tell that the laws OF health call for the abo.
1t is u "horrlble indecency." cries Dr. TalmaQe.
Did DR.. Tamage ever witness the cremation OF
human body9 II he did not his assertion is worth
nothing. II he did ! would place against his evi.
dence that Of another Presby teran Clergyman, the
Rev. George s. Payson. who saw the cremation Of
that There was absolutely nothing whatever repug-
nsnt to the senses-no flame, no smoke, no odor OF
any kind" There is absolutely comparison be-
cency the argument IL overwhelmingly in favor Of
the former. Even il the grave be violated by
sacrilegous hands its denominations uuutterabe.
I shall not however. harrow the feelings OF your
readers by describing the horrors OF putrefaction
and of 'the small cold worm that fretteth the en-
shrouded FORM"
And, Mr.. Editor, would have Dr. Talmage and
all who think he does understand that neither in
Charles A. McCreery nor in any of his stock
there anything that sayored of 'heathenism."
They belong to that of Scotchmen who settling
in the North of Ireland in the sixteenth and
tsenth centuries. have, through much persecution.
kept alive the liberty and the religion OF their
fathers. With such family Presbyterianism and
all the name implies are as q second nature. Had
Mr.. McCreery believed there was single word in
the Bible forbiddng cremation he would have
elected to obey God rather than man, and however
painful II might have been to him to disregard q
dying sons request he would not have hesitated to
unscriptural and though the deed was repugnant to
his own feelings. he ielt that he had alternative
but to respect the dying wish.
1t was my privilege, sir, to enjoy close acQuaint-
with the late Charles A. McCrecry, and Is his
character has been publicly assailed by one of the
most popular preachers in America feel constrained
to bear testimony to the beauty and spotessness
of his te the sweetness and trmness OF his dispo.
sition. He q true friend. He was an honorable.
me- who knew him well. his last request came as .
revelation at once Of the courage or his will his
fhal trust and his flial respect. He has been
snatched away too early from the bosom OF a loving
family, from life of honor and illness. For
him death can have had no sting; him the
grave can have had no victory. Death came but AZ
the release of thejmmortal part from the mortal.
Only the folly o. Ignorance and superstition can
object to that disposal his body which he himself
requested. Respectfully. yours.
WILLIAM II. MAXWELL.
No DAT GATES AVENUE, BRooKLYN. n Y.