The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-05-19
OUR DUTIES TO THE DEAD.

The Rev. Heber Newton, of New
York, in a recent address, spoke words
of sense and wisdom, which all would
do well to read. The text was sour
Duties to the Dead" and since death
comes to all, the subject was a good
one on which to build a lesson. Mr..
Heber said
The aversge church theory of show.
ing proper respect for deceased friends,
is TO make an ostentatious display of
mourning, and to subject the living to
as much discomfort and peril as pos
sible. The health of every commun-
ity is threatened to greater or less
extent by the exposure of dead bodies,
no matter how contagious the disease
of which they died by the proximity
Of graveyards; by personal attendance
at interments without regard to the
weather; by standing uncovered in
the cold and rain while the coffin is
carried by and lowered into the grave;
and by certain forms in dress which
are either depressing or meaningless.
DR.. Newton condemned all these prac-
tees.
He came out with an approval of
cremation. He admitted the prospect
af being burned after death to be a
disagreeable one, but this sensation is
purely physical. 1t arises from the
painful experience of burn in life
and the natural physical repugnance
to the thought of sudden and com.
tplete extinction of the bodily form
But incarceration in crematory differs
only 10 point of time from the pro-
cess of combustion which goes on IN
der the influence of natural gas In
the grave. If prejudice be put aside,
and If it be remembered that the vital
element disappears with death, then
intelligence compels the admission
that the burning of the body is no
more repulsive than what is known as
the rotting of the body. The process
of dissolution can be of no concern 10
the spirit which has fed from its
earthly casket. But it is of the ut
most Importance to those who remain
behind. Public he lSh is a great fac
tor in the enterprise, p ogress and
morals of every community, and
there is no question that crowed GEM
eteries breed disease which might be
averted through the universal adop-
ton of cremation.
Our funeral customs are irrational
and cruel. The real moIrners at
every funeral are few. Why should
they be required to expose their grief
to the gaze of Indifferent people who
put in an attendance either through
idle curiosity or to observe an empty
courtesy Why should aged and in.
firm people, women in delicate health
young children, friends who are asked
to act at pail b.arers-Why should any
body be expected to risk
colds, pneumonia fevers and fatal
illness by exposure at interments?
what service does such exposure yield
to the dead? What good does it do
to the living? 1t is a custom more
honored in the breach than in the OBJ
servance: and, awaiting the time
when prejudice shall die out sufficient
ly TO admit of a general acquiescence
In cremation, funerals should be private
quiet and considerate of the health
and feelings of the living.
DR.. Newton also condemned the
mourning garb for many good reasons
which will occur to every one who
thinks the matter over seriously. In
fact the entire group of our funeral
customs is devoid of the practical and
thoughtful tendency of our times, and
an active agitation of reform may
bring about many desirable changes.