New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-16
NIX. EEECHER on CREMATION.
INCiNFRAToN NOT MORE PAGAN THAN CHRISTIAN
-RENERENCE FOR The BODY.

-BEyERENCL FOR THE BODY.
10 me Edtfor Of me TrtbHte.
SIR: In your issue Of July :, Mr.. Bccchcr. in
HE az tho previous SUNDAY morning, upon The
Resurrection" II reported saving that reverence for
the b1lt a rds lasting resistance 10 the pagan ems
tom of bursting the dead"
It Is seldom that Mr. Beechcr allows his prendces TO
pct te better - his Judgment but 1t seems 70 me Na
No. has mot been wholly to ls Intellectual con
yic.lous This is indicated 10y the fart that at time
when the State Board Of Health sounding note of
warning and alarm concerning the prospective haeful
effects OF nc crowded cemeteries which sur
round NoW York sud Brooklyn upon the health of these
cities NJ appears the apoOgst and defender
OF ttcs, pest beds. aud inpedy the advocate
OF ter extension oyercruwdnE rather than assent To
tie Adoption ~ any method ui di7po-iuL of the dead
~ apcord with the well-estahi4hed principles Of
moIofu sanitary soiouoe aud this. too soipl, and
ssovrlly ON" imaginary nounts while admitting
That ucrr ma, Boo sanitary roaRons for pieforrne n
uurlauun"
Nj noe,uer allows bimaalf 10 a,opt u,o Language Of
prejudice suamailf'uf tnr Wrluorlt"n OF tne dop
"a pssap euatou.' ani thia notwithstanding hc mui
be- familiar eiph ,e iaot that r',,dsd Tie ilt
brow ssfol scnplurea % Samuel .AstI. aud frequent,
Boa otlel culcw slt.se, tho cremation 81 tno dead
tl s,inc rAtolt at bee Joalsu well pagan
practice NJ horch,r knows too. That earth burial D.,
l.rs luau cremation 't Pasau osIat'm piartacl h1
humorous pagan lHop,- thousands o years before 10 ue
ctue" CHRISTIAN burial Eating and drinking are pa
gan custom." bIi shall we therefore 10 cat and
dunk' Bo,ldes Nj BoeGher knOws tnat the clearly
dr.orDu- incuerauon Of the human dead 10y means Of
modern appliance, which fuel or flame OF foreign
substance contact With the body and IN which
%" it products 0i TIE outruu-ton thorough! Tcgru
crates ue Oelg liberated, Tar ud from the
pagan custom ' ot burning The dead Upuu the open
pIr .. America BE- frrlu india.
Again. Mr. betcAcr- knowledge % the processes ~
decomposition aul pr chemistry must have pressed
hA WliA the iaei ihs' 10 avoid Tie burning of
suo0y Boz putlih- IL 4h the -IOuna. decomposition Do
tt grave hc khuWe. Is slow process OF combustion
oAl0u 10y Whien the couluucuis of the body are con
Nerttd INTO their constituent elements The bufuiuc
may TAKE pace lh me gloom aud dcsoafiOn Of The grave
or may take P Ia the light OF the nm
but II s burning al the The process nlsv dr,,a,
st ot through my or hundred wears amid The most
lofhddlhg ana Offensive enyrOuncnt. or II n,ov Inc =
If'SH q" single hour ccaulILess ana ugbt. nm IA
either cas-, the result II the 49, "' "a
MI Eteclef appeals 10 regard t,oetic
azure That las tutHiued itsrf about me crave ga
presents ~ an example stanze beginning win the
prayer. VIZ" 0io
'Cnyei thy bosom. faithful tonb
Aud yet knows better than Nh B,echer tho. ii,
lie faithful tomb should "unve IT, bosoIo - Si
De found 20 De exactly Jesus described IL" vbisad
eepuchre which within IL full Of TOttenness and id
heHs bones" '-
seF erence for the body, would think instead n,
aAordll- lasting resistance the practice OF ncinsr
ION would lnpe beloved dead frou, liz
e euArilei house where, II placed, they must dwell 10
@'SoeAt coinpanionship Of WORMS and foul disease