Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-08-13

- -H7 RAACnNACA AtAARuSuOub THO
United States in gate a respectful
manner, though not to that extent,
probably, which the subject de
mands. We propose in this paper
to lay down a few of the leading
objections to this mode of disposal
Of the dead, and discuss them from
a rational and logical standpoint.
The human body is made up en-
tirely Of earthly elements, and
nothing that man can do will pre-
vent its ultimate return to its con-
stituent element. The fat has gone
forth, "dust thou art and unto dust
shalt thou return"
If We cremate our loved ones the
constituent elements Of their bodies
will rs surely resolve themselves
back to mother earth as If we had
committed their bodies to the
grave. 1t IS only question oftime
50 far as this fact is concerned. 1t
is urged in opposition that it looks
like a tendency to thwart the de-
signs Of the Almighty, in bis prom
ises to resurrect the body.
We would reply, what will be-
come of the martyred thousands
whose bodies have been burned at
the stake as witnesses to truth ?
Will their bodies be denied a par
ticipation in the general resurrec'
ton? The proposition is too vague,
thin and fiinsy, to admit of discus
sion. What this resurrection is,
and how it is to be cOnsummated,
is not our province at present to dis
cuss. Suffice it to say that the ele-
ments which go to make up the hu-
man body will never see daylight
as a necessary ingredient in the
general resurrection. at is sown a
natural body. it will be raised a
spiritual body" What this spiritual
body is no human analysis can de-
termine. 1t is the province Of the
natural mind to analyze and deter
mine natural laws, and the spiritual
mind, to analyze and determine
spiritual laws. Hence, we, as hui
man beings, can form no adequate
conceptions of the resurrection.
1t is further urged in opposition
that to cremate the dead carries
with it the idea that we are want
ing in our respect and in our devO-
ton TO the dear departed. This, to
our conviction, is simply the result
of education. So far as tender
thought and recollection is con-
cerned it appears to the writer that
to have the ashes of our dearly be-
loved safely deposited in an urn OF
an almost imperishable nature
would be far more Citing for cher
ished memory than the loathsome
prisons of the common charnel
house. Besides, had we the ashes
Of our lost ones how much more
easy and convenient could we make
their final resting place, and, If in
clinatiOn prompted, we could disin-
ter and convey to more selected
places.
1t may be said that cremation is
revolving to our sense of humanity.
/ will answer that this feeling
should not exist and would not ex-
list if the practice of cremation had
been in existence for time, whereof
the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary. Some one has said
that "the grave hides a multitude
of SINS" permit me to paraphrase:
"the grave, as at present used, hides
everything Of a loathsome and re-
voting character" ana clearly
OF the opinion that if it were posi-
BILE to look down into the grave,
humanity would cry aloud as one
man, for a change. The writer of
these few thoughts has placed
many a dear departed one into the
shades of night, but not into forget
fulness; hence Off it be pOssjble), he
would urge a reformation. SO far
as the writer's information extends,
there is nothing hideous or repul-
sIve in incarceration the body is
placed i'm a receptacle and this is
put into erucible or retort, and
the body is consumed by the con-
tact of heated air, there being no
odor whatever. Whatever gases |
or Vapors might be obnoxious in
ordinary consumption or through a
long process of decomposition, are
thus consumed and destroyed, leav-
ing in its stead a few pounds Of
pure white ashes. l am perfectly
aware of the claim of the dead upon
the thoughts anG affections of the
living; there is no hOlier nor more
hallOwed inspiration than that of
our thoughts of those most dear to
us who have gone before. 1 have
stood in awe and in sorrow watch
ing the grave. with relentless cruel
ty, swallowing tine remains of dear,
cherished ones, with no CLEAN of
light, no ray of hope, no gilded
arch save that ia the promised re-
surrection.- In treating of the dis
pusal of our dead due respect should |
be paid to expressed preferences
while living. As for me and mine,
me from the common, in
satiate grave, and give me in its
stead that which is far more COM
forting III its anti"ipations more |
cheerful in its ultimate destiny.
The grave! Oh ! how f0rbidding |
So cold, comfortless, cherries | |
So silent, saddening, sorrowful So
hideous and narrowing |
IT'S true, there is no consciousness |
i'm the grave; yet, while living, we
cannot divest ourselves of the idea
that we, each and every one, will |
be an active factor la the realm of
thought and consciousness. How /
many regain consciousness after
burial we have no data of deter
v,,fnino, we can only hone that they /