Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-05-28
CREMATION.
L.svAs,xR's sooiErY oReASiziso.
a nseuus oi tho suoscriocrs Ia the frcjec'-
preparation tor sstsbiisning
cremation Furnace,

scribers to the local project for the estao
lshment OF q cremation furnace sat IN tho
editorial rooms Of the INrFLLIGENCER |
Office last evening discussing tue subject
There was no lack Of earnestncss aud sin.
cerity In their consideration of II. Several
new subscribers appeared, signed ths
books aud took part in the meeting and
when tho names were read over, IL was
seen that they comprised leading cit,nons
of intelligence, social, business aud ptoies'
sioual influence. Ii was stated that those
who had already taken 81 900 Of the stock
were anxious and willing to subscribe all
that was necessary, but IT had been
deemed expedieut for short time To
leave the subscriptions open to others 10
crafty the widespread prevailing interest
man f. sted in the subject lnqulries from
Reading, York, Harrisburg aud other
points as to the progress of the matter
were also reported and number OF per
sons from the county we're said 10 DO
ready to so into tho movement.
The Association.
The meeting last evening was hnally
organized with ID. q. Eshelman, esq, IN
| the chair, and III. e.. Brubaker acting rs
secretary. There was general discussion
Of the best means of proceeding with tho
enterprise, and OF the subjects Of cost,
|
| Grafton, NC.
| J.P. McCaskey, J. ID Pyott aud w. U.
| uenssL who had visited the Le Moyno
cremation furnace at Washington, gave the
| company some interesting facts about IT,
| The building and apparatus had COST about
| sl 900, but with that experience in Wow
| another could be erected Of improved pat
tern st even less cost. Tho bodies there
wero first crcmated with wood fire, but
| coal was used later, III part or whole the
| total cost Of q cremation was - 90 1000
degrees of heat was generally attained,
and l50 pound body was reduced TO six
| pounds of gray ashes in about four hours ;
the whole operation was respectful aud
reverent, and the ashes were generally
taken away in the same coffin which
| brought the bodies, sometimes for burial
and by some for urnal preservation in
| vaults or otherwise.
Mr.. Brubaker supplemented these ac-
counts with further information rs TO cost,
location, probable patronage and the
necessity for the early erection Of the fur
mace, as the LeMoyue crematory will DO
CLOSED after Aug. | to oil persons outside
| of Washington county, Ia.
Mr.. ID. q. Eshleman and Mr.. W. A.
Wilson gave an interesting account from
personal observation of the practice and
| processes OF cremation IN Europe, where
II is resorted TO aud is coming more and
more into vogue as sanitary, economic
and revereut method Of disposng Of the
| dead. Ia the great cemetery at Milan
Mr.. Wilson had seen the cremation fur.
naces almost constantly employed and the
plan is popular. In other great centres
of population it is relief from the hor
rors which so often accompany the crowd.
| ,f ha hpp nf
bodies.
Mr.. w. B. Middleton and Mr Geo. X.
Reed discussed the practical construction
of the furnace, and threw light On the
proper methods of building and equipping
the concern.
Drs. Carpenter, NJ. l.. aud ). T. Davis
viewed the subject from the standpoint OF
sanitary science ana reported the hearty
interest of the medical fraternity in the
project of promoting cremation. In times
Of epidemic and the prevalence Of cOnta
gious diseases such disposition of dead
bodies would contribute u check them by
destroying the germs ; IL the dissecting
rooms Of medical colleges cremation is 70
sorted to as the best means of disposing OF
decomposed animal matter; crowded
cemeteries and the gradual decay Of the
bodies laid in them tend ~ the pollution
of the air and water in cities, and the
frequent removal Of these bodies from one
place TO another bred disease and shocked
the finer feelings of humanity far more
| than the clean process Of cremation.
| u. {. Kennedy, esq, and other lega
members of the meeting spoke Of the
proper plan of organization and seemed
to think it could be effected either on the
basis Of cemetery associations or OF SO.
cietes for the promotion Of science.
Slessrs. Jos. Schmidt, NJ. T. Garyin
Geo. Brubaker and others present CAV,
their hearty approval Of the project OF
sentimental, sanitary aud economic
grounds, and believed the public was read!
to welcome q change from the presen
costly, unmeaning and too often irreyeren
funeral and sepuiture methods TO a sensi
BILE, practical and economical method o.
disposiDg Of the dead.
The outcome Of the meeting was tn
appointment of the following com mmittees
To consider the best method Of estab
: fishing q crematory furnace, Including
cost, location, plan, operation, SO. Geo
X. Reed. N. l.. Davis, NJ. d., and w. U
Hensel.
To consider plan Of organization, char
> ter, Sc. ID. G. Eshleman, Ii. C.Brubaksr
w. A. Wilson and G.. &. Kennedy.
: The committees were instructed to max
: deligent inquiries on the subjects assigne,
to them and be ready to report at an earl
meeting, to be called by the chairman upo
notice.
1t was agreed that the subscriptio
books DO left for few day more at ii. {
Brubaker's office for further subscribers
after which the remainder of tho stoc
will be taken by those who have alread
tax en- part of it.
cremation Talk.
After argument and while the gentle
men participating were waiting for th
, clouds Of a passing shower to roll by, tn
: discussion Of the subject was renewed
|, Some fears were expressed, illustrated b
, incidents related, that in certain parts @
,, the county the project suffered by con
: fusion of names, from local prejudice
3 against oreameries and to avoid this
was agreed that the use of the more acou
/, rate term cremation furnace instead {
crematory should be encouraged.
A number of gentlemen spoke OF th
frequency with which the bodies in cen
eteries, especially in cities, have to be n
= moved. There have been numerous IL
stances Of this in Lancaster and many MOI
r are sure to ocour. They have alway
: been attended with painful scenes an
] horrible mixing OF bones and gener,
r confusion of remains. To substitute Il
the ordinary burial modes incineration {
{ the body and the deposit Of the ashes
aealad metal or earthenWar urns WOul